News Briefs

Cyber lab

SEEING the need to intensify the fight against cybercrimes, the Cebu provincial government is building a cyber laboratory for the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 7 (CIDG-7).

Yesterday, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and CIDG-7 Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. led the groundbreaking ceremony at the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) in Sudlon for the construction a a building that will serve as a laboratory for cyber crimes, the first of its kind in the Visayas.

Capitol earmarked more than P1 million for the construction of the building on a 100-sq. m. lot inside the CPPO compound.

For its part, CIDG turned over P5-million worth of forensic equipment such as two sets of personal computer, one laptop, hard drives, a digital camera and evidence drives.  The equipment will be used in the laboratory.

In August this year, during the Cyber Crime Investigation Seminar at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr., Supt. Gilbert Sosa, head of the Anti-Transnational and Cyber Crime Division of Camp Crame, proposed to Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale that a cyber laboratory must be established in Cebu.

Magpale informed Garcia about Sosa’s concern and the governor welcomed the idea.

Pagdilao said the laboratory would hasten the investigation on cybersex cases because evidence wouldn’t have to be examined in Manila because we now had the capability in Cebu.

Provincial engineer Eulogio Pelayre said the building is expected to be completed in a month and the tentative date of inauguration is on Dec. 21./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus with Correspondent Chito O. Aragon

Ecleo hunt

THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is intensifying its hunt for PBMA cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr.

CIDG head Samuel Padgilao said copies of Ecleo’s warrant of arrest were furnished to all CIDG regional offices.

Pagdilao who was here yesterday said that they are now continued to find out Ecleo’s whereabouts who is wanted for parricide charges he has been facing.

He was accused for killing his wife, Alona Bacolod on 2001 whose body was dumped into a ravine in Dalaguete town.

Aside from warrant of arrest issued by Cebu based Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Soliver Peras, Ecleo had also pending warrant of arrest from Sandigan Bayan./Correspondent Chito O. Aragon

Capitol budget

THE Cebu Provincial government’s proposed P3.6-billion budget for 2012 was passed on second reading by the Provincial Board yesterday.

But before it was approved, Provincial Board (PB) member Sun Shimura raised a concern over the allocation of the district hospitals.

He specifically raised concern over the P8-million allocated budget for the Daanbantayan District Hospital.

Shimura said that compared to other district hospitals, Daanbantayan has a lesser allocation.  /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

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