Newsbriefs

DISSATISFIED OVER OBENZA

LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza openly expressed her dissatisfaction over the performance of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Chief Senior Supt. Anthony Obenza but said she won’t ask for the officer’s relief.

About six months ago, Radaza told the police to exert more effort to arrest persons involved in cyber-pornography and to lower the occurrence of petty crimes.

Radaza earlier gave Obenza a rating of six in a scale of one to 10.

She also expressed disappointment over Obenza’s failure to inform her about the presence of cyberpornography operation in the city.

Obenza revealed the existence of cyber pornography rings in a radio program but failed to inform Radaza about it.

He said those involved had ceased operation making it hard for them to monitor and arrest them.

After five months since Radaza gave her order, she gave the police a 6.5 rating saying the .5 is for their effort in Task Force Kalikasan.

Radaza is again challenging the police to eradicate illegal gambling activities such as video karera and illegal drug trade, which are rampant in the city.

The mayor said the police have to give their best as the city government is also giving them all-out support./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA

PASSENGER LOADING SYSTEM

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza is calling on the Philippine Coast Guard and the management of the Metro Ferry to draw up a system to avoid long lines at the Muelle Osmeña Wharf.

Radaza inspected the wharf yesterday after she received reports that passengers, mostly her constituents, have to wait long and are sometimes exposed to the heat of the sun or rain while waiting for their turn to board the ferry bound for Pier 3 in Cebu City.

She observed that the lack of proper system caused the delay of the boarding and inconvenience to the passengers.

“If it needs to put additional personnel to their office, then why not do it?” Radaza said.

Radaza appointed a personnel of the mayor’s office to look into the matter and find a way to    bring convenience to those who prefer to take the ferry boat in gong to the city.

She hopes that the problem will be solved before the celebration of Lapu-Lapu City’s annual fiesta on Nov. 21 in honor of the Lady of Rule./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA

ANTI-OBSCENITY ORDINANCE FOR PB

After the Cebu media cried foul over the proposed Anti-Tabloid Ordinance, the Provincial Board (PB) revised it to the Anti-Obscenity Ordinance.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, the proponent of the ordinance said they considered the position paper of the Cebu Media Legal Aid (Cemla) during the committee hearings and some revisions were made.

Earlier, when Magpale proposed the Anti-Tabloid Ordinance, some Cebu media outlets complained that the local papers were being singled-out in the ordinance.
The creation of a Provincial Anti-Obscenity Board is also provided in the ordinance.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, being the chairperson of the Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC) will appoint the  board chairperson.

Magpale said they have nobody in mind yet but they prefer to pick  someone who isn’t in government service.

PB Member Peter John Calderon who chairs the committee on laws has submitted his report after reviewing Magpale’s proposed ordinance.

A public hearing will soon be conducted before presenting it to the board for final reading.

Cemla, in its press statement does not oppose the creation of PA-OB.

“As long as these agencies don’t violate free speech and assembly and other liberties, like due process of law and equal protection of the laws, Cemla won’t have any objection,” said Cemla president Elias Espinoza./CORRESPONDENT CARMEL LIOSE MATUS