Newsbriefs

CHARGES READIED AGAINST SUSPECT IN FATAL MAULING

OFFICIALS of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) failed to file criminal charges against the suspects in the fatal mauling of alleged shoplifter Mario Alfie Ducayag before the close of business hours at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

NBI agent Bernard dela Cruz said they will return along with family members to file the charges at 8 a.m today.

“Copies were reproduced at 3 p.m. already, and we still have to read the case,” dela Cruz said.

Criminal and administrative charges filed against PNP medico-legal officer Nestor Sator were referred to the Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO).

“The case will undergo preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication,” Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol said.

Sator’s findings concluded that Ducayag died of “asphyxia due to bleeding pulmonary tuberculosis.”

But a re-autopsy requested by the Ducayag family and performed by Dr. Rene Cam, NBI medico-legal officer showed that Ducayag died due to “traumatic neck injuries.”

Apostol said Sator can submit a counter-affidavit on the charges filed against him. UP Cebu Intern Apple Ta-as

MAGPALE WARY ON MACTAN PROVINCE PROPOSAL

ACTING Gov. Agnes Magpale said it’s not good to break up Cebu in order to create the proposed Mactan province.

“Makaayo ba sa kinatibuk-an sa lalawigan? (Is it good for the whole province?),” Magpale asked in response to the proposal by Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Aileen Radaza to separate Lapu-Lapu and the rest of Mactan from Cebu.

The acting governor said it would be better if Cebu remains as it is. “I don’t know if it would be (beneficial to both parties). I will just listen if that would make us better,” Magpale said.

Among those who supported the creation of a Mactan province was Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy. Lapu-Lapu City mayoral candidate and businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr. opposed the proposal.

If the bill is approved, Lapu-Lapu City will be reclassified from a highly-urbanized city into a component city, while Olango Island with its 11 barangays, will be elevated into a town.

Mactan province will elect a governor, vice governor, congressman, three mayors, three vice mayors, 24 councilors and eight board members.

Radaza said converting Mactan into a province means a bigger share of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for the towns and barangays. CNU Intern Nice Ann Teleron

ACACIA BRANCH STALLS TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC stalled for 45 minutes along F. Sotto Street connecting to D. Jakosalem Extension near the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Church bogged down after it was blocked by a fallen branch of an old acacia tree at 7:21 a.m yesterday.

Personnel from the City Risk Reduction Management Council and the City Fire Department cut the broken branch that was as thick as a human waist in diameter.

A crew from the Department of Public Services (DPS) took custody of the broken branch.

“The clearing operations was finished quickly because we have personnel trained to cut down trees,” disaster office operations head Alvin Santillana said.

Santillana said they need to secure permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before they could cut down century old trees. “If the tree poses a threat to public safety then it could be cut down,” he said. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac