Newsbriefs

MEETING ON DRAINAGE

AFTER suspending work at the Monterrazas de Cebu project site in barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wants to meet with members of the Southplains Homeowners Association to discuss the possibility of letting the Monterrazas drainage system pass through their area.

He said he is also looking into clearing illegal structures on creeks and rivers in the barangay.

Three families that lost their homes to massive flooding in sitio Kamanggahan continue to take shelter at the barangay hall.

Guadalupe barangay captain Michael Gacasan said he also provided the families with food and fares for the children who go to Banawa Elementary Shool.

“Ako na lang usa ang mo hatag nila kay wala pa man jud silay mahimo,” said Gacasan.

Lormilo Galo, vice president for business development of Genvi Development Corp., promised Gacasan in a meeting last July 21 that Monterrazas de Cebu was prepared to help families affected by the massive flooding on July 20.

But Gacasan said no help was given to the affected families so far.

The Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), Gacasan said, listed at least 180 families from eight sitios who were affected by the flood.

Gacasan said he intends to seek City Hall’s help for the affected families./CHIEF OF REPORTERS DORIS C. BONGCAC AND CORRESPONDENT EDISON A. DELOS ANGELES

‘DAD LEADS IN RECOUNT’

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to announce the official result of the recount of votes for the 2010 Cebu vice gubernatorial race.

However, the camp of former Cebu Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez believes the latter’s victory would be vindicated.

Sanchez’ eldest daughter Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero said her father led by at least 12,500 votes in yesterday’s recount.

Grecilda said the Comelec finished counting votes in 200 ballot boxes from Mandaue City and Consolacion town.

“I’m happy about it because the truth that my dad really won has been revealed,” Zaballero said.

She advised the camp of businessman Glen Soco to learn how to “come again another day.”

“The quality of a good leader is to accept defeat graciously. (However), pointing fingers is not a good sign of a good leader,” she said.

She said their family was hurt about insinuations of irregularity in the vice gubernatorial race last May 10, 2010.

Soco filed an election protest against Sanchez, questioning results of the automated elections.

Sanchez garnered 543,924 votes against Soco’s 517,687 in the May 2010 elections. /REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL

ON PAIN OF CONTEMPT

A judge yesterday ordered Dr. Paulus Cañete, head of the controversial Mandaue City College, to explain why he named her in an advertisement published in local dailies.

Regional Trial Court Judge Marilyn Lagura Yap of Branch 28 said she wanted to know why Cañete should not be cited in contempt.

In the advertisement, Cañete lifted a quote from the judge including a statement that “defendants (Mayor Jonas Cortes and Mandaue city government) have arrogated unto themselves the authority unilaterally not to recognize plaintiff MCC. They should have at least waited for final judgment from court determining whether or not plaintiff MCC validly exists.”

The order will be heard on Sept. 16, 2011, at 8:30 a.m.

Cañete told Cebu Daily News he just wanted to let the public know that the school cannot be closed without a court order.

Students said yesterday they will not transfer to other schools.

They were responding to Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairperson Patricia Licuanan’s order to close the school and let students transfer.

Licuanan said Cañete “has no legal personality to operate a local college and lacks the government permit from Ched.”

“If the school closes down, I would no longer pursue my college education,” Elvis Llemit, a first year information technology student, said in Cebuano. He said that he could not afford the fees required by other universities.

“They would really give us, students, too much difficulty if they would push through with closing our school. We cannot find another institution with a P100 per unit rate,” expressed Ronnie Andales, a fourth year Education student. /REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS AND CORRESPONDENT PATRICIA ANDREA PATEÑA