Newsbriefs

P35 Million for park or schools?

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Joy Young disagree over plans  to convert the Pasil fish market.

While Rama wants it  converted to a public park, Young said the P35-million  amount would be better spent to build  schools.

“When I created the Coastal Management Board (CMB) back in 2002, it was already part of the plan,” Rama said.

He said the  San Nicolas Parish Church used to faced the   shoreline about 300 years ago.

“Later it was turned into a playground for  children of the churchgoers. I am only restoring the old playground,” Rama said.  He said barangays Pasil, Suba, Sawang Calero and Pahina San Nicolas need an open space for a playground.

In a letter sent yesterday, Young asked the mayor to reconsider. The mayor left yesterday for Xiamen, China.

“With the P35 million set for the park, we can already build at least 50 classrooms,” Young  wrote. Back in 2009, said Young,  he planned to convert the Pasil fish market buildings into a Pasil High School and a satellite college.

But Rama said his plan was conceived earlier in 2002.  There are 2,500 students from the five barangays of Pasil, Suba, Sawang, Duljo, Pahina San Nicolas who are enrolled in Gothong High School and Pasil Night High School.  Correspondent Edison delos Angeles

Ex-Madridejos mayor indicted

A FORMER mayor of Madridejos town will face trial before the Sandiganbayan on a criminal charge of  unlawful appointment.

Letty Mancio was also  held administratively liable by the Ombudsman and was meted a suspension, but since she is  no longer mayor, the suspension was voided.

In May 2005, Mancio  appointed her brother Eddy Villacarlos as consultant to supervise the town policemen and municipal employees.

However, the anti-graft office said he is prohibited from supervising or exercising control over career personnel of the  municipal government and town policemen.

The  Madridejos council requested  Villacarlos to furnish copies of the result of the investigation on the alleged tampering of official receipts at the Treasurer’s Office. The investigation was supposed to be conducted by the council but was referred by the mayor  to Villacarlos.

Villacarlos also apprehended motor vehicle owners and collected fines from private motorcycle owners although he was  deputized by the Land Transportation Office.

The mayor reasoned out that she assigned Villacarlos to head the panel of investigators since he is a law school graduate.

Villacarlos and municipal treasurer Felixberta Villcarlos were also charged before the Ombudsman Visayas but the charges were dismissed.  Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

New RTC Executive Judge

JUDGE Sylvestre Maamo Jr. of Branch 17 is the new executive judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Cebu City.

The Supreme Court (SC) recently appointed Maamo to the post which he assumed after RTC Judge Meinrado Paredes stepped down last June.

Maamo said he will continue to enforce the policies instituted by his predecessor.

Maamo’s term is until  2013 but may be extended by the  High Court.   Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol