Newsbriefs

Vidal recovers from mild stroke

AFTER almost a week of hospitalization, Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has recovered from a mild stroke but doctors want to be very sure he is well before discharging him.

Fr. Joseph De Aquino, the cardinal’s secretary said Cardinal Vidal had fully recovered. “He is out of danger. He even wants to go home already,” De Aquino said.

Cardinal Vidal was rushed to the Perpetual Succour Hospital last Tuesday after he had difficulty speaking while inside his retirement house.

Cardinal Vidal will undergo another CT scan today or tomorrow, according to De Aquino.

The priest added that as of yesterday, Cardinal Vidal could already walk and move on his own, but doctors advised him to lessen his activities, and not go on long trips. / Reporter Joy Cherry Quito

Davide urged to give firetrucks to LGUs

THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has asked Gov. Hilario Davide III to turn over the ownership of 32 firetrucks which were distributed to the different towns and cities.

The PB, in a caucus, decided to endorse the request of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) requested for the donation of the firetrucks so to enable the agency to fully gain operational and administrative control of the vehicles.

But instead of donating the firetrucks straight to the BFP, PB member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez said the fire bureau will have to coordinate with the LGUs for the final turnover of the firetrucks.

“We will ask the governor to donate the firetrucks to the different LGUs and then BFP will be the one to coordinate with the localities,” she said.

The 32 firetrucks which were acquired during the administration of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia were distributed to the towns and cities. The provincial government however, retained ownership of the trucks.

Provincial Fire Marshal Ismael Codilla said once the firetrucks are handed over to them, the BFP will build substations to house the firetrucks. The DILG attached agency will also shoulder its maintenance and operating expenses. /Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos

Crime photog testifies in Ellah Joy trial

The prosecution team in the three-year-old kidnap-slay case of Ellah Joy Pique presented yesterday the crime scene photographer. During yesterday’s hearing before Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 6, the prosecution team headed by Fiscal Jerome Abarca, presented Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory photographer Bryan Brizo. He told the court he was under the supervision of Senior Insp. Leonides Casul when he took photos at the crime scene on February 9, 2011 and in the raid of the house Bellah Ruby Santos in Naga City on March 4, 2011..

The prosecution will present two more witnesses on Nov. 11 and 25, before the defense will present their own witnesses.

Ellah Joy was the six-year-old girl found dead, dumped in a cliff in Guibuangan, Barili, south of Cebu on Feb. 9, 2011.

Standing accused of the crime is Bella Ruby Santos who is now out on bail.

Her British partner Ian Charles Griffiths went out of the country before the court issued a warrant for his arrest.  /Correspondent Apple Ta-as