News Briefs

Gale warning strands 200 passengers

At least 200 passengers headed to Cebu from Ormoc City were left stranded when Coast Guard officials stopped vessels from leaving the port due to a gale warning.

Capt. Edgardo Deluna, Coast Guard Western Visayas spokesperson, said in a phone interview that a vessel leaving at 7 a.m. on Saturday was stopped from leaving Ormoc after the weather bureau issued a gale warning for the eastern seaboard.

Deluna said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geological Astronomical Services Administration warned against waves as high as 4.5 meters.

Fishing boats were also prevented from setting out to sea. Only a vessel from Roble Shipping was allowed to leave port around 11 a.m. —Robert Dejon

Davao del Sur mayors: No facility for child offenders

Members of the League of Mayors of the province of Davao del Sur raised concern over the lack of facilities for child offenders should the move in Congress to lower the age of criminality succeed.

Two mayors — Jose Jimmy Sagarino of Sulop town and Joseph Peñas of Digos City — said that although they didn’t oppose the move to lower the age of criminality, they were worried about its impact on local government resources.

Peñas said, in Digos, the social welfare and development office did not even have its own building to house children who ran afoul with the law.

In Cagayan de Oro City, several nongovernment organizations, educators and a lawmaker expressed opposition to the move to lower the age of criminality. Balaod Mindanaw Inc., a nongovernment organization involved in peace building, said treating children like adults would not bring down the crime rate. —Orlando Dinoy and Erwin Macariñas

CHEd sees “upswing” in education ties with UK

At least 124 Filipino scholars under the Chevening Program were sent to the United Kingdom over the last five years, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) reported during a meeting with ministers in London on Friday.

CHEd chair Prospero de Vera III said the commission expanded the collaboration between universities in the Philippines and the United Kingdom as a “key strategy” to improve higher education in the Philippines and Filipino graduates’ competitiveness.

Philippine-UK relations on education, De Vera said, has been on an “upswing.” —Jodee A. Agoncillo

PCSO sees minimal growth in revenue this year

After posting a record P63.5-billion revenue in 2018, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) expects flat growth in income this year.

PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan said in a statement that total revenue could plateau due to the nationwide rollout of the small town lottery (STL) or legalized “jueteng” games.

“We might have reached the peak. Maybe this year, revenues will not grow much,” he said.

He, however, said he hoped to maintain or exceed by a minimum the P63.5 billion revenue level.

In case revenue hits a plateau, Balutan said the agency would explore new markets and systems or try online games to increase income.

The PCSO is currently studying new gaming proposals, he said.

Among these is online betting, which can be accessed via mobile phones.

Ex-Palawan vice gov, 2 others convicted of estafa

The Sandiganbayan First Division has sentenced former Palawan Vice Gov. David A. Ponce de Leon, executive assistant Adonis T. Grande and management and audit analyst Anita G. Salas to 20 years in prison for two counts of estafa through falsification of public documents.

In a Jan. 18 ruling penned by Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, the antigraft court also ordered the three to pay a fine of P60,000 each.

Two of their coaccused, Orlando B. Colobong and Teofilo S. Palanca Jr., were acquitted after the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The accused were charged by the Ombudsman with estafa for conspiring to defraud the Palawan provincial government of more than P200,000 by padding receipts for reimbursement of food expenses incurred in a restaurant. —Patricia Denies M. Chiu

Rule of succession prevails in Daraga; vice mayor now mayor

The Department of the  Interior and Local Government (DILG) installed as acting mayor of Daraga, Albay, the town’s vice mayor, Victor Perete, after the Commission on Elections and the DILG’s Bicol office ruled that Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo is “temporarily incapacitated.” Baldo is facing murder charges for allegedly masterminding the December assassination of his rival in the mayoral race, Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe. Baldo is in hospital detention after his arrest for illegal possession of firearms on Tuesday. The DILG installed Perete on Friday, explaining that the decision was in accordance with the rule on succession of the Local Government Code.—JAYMEE T. GAMIL

Pope assures PH bishops of his support amid Du30 attacks

Amid President Duterte’s continued attacks against the Church, Pope Francis on Saturday assured Filipino Catholic bishops that they had his support, especially in their “efforts to shepherd in truth.” In his message to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the Pope lauded the clergy’s “efforts to advance the mission of the Church in the Philippines.” “His Holiness assures you of his prayers in your efforts to shepherd in truth and love those entrusted to your pastoral care,” read the letter sent to CBCP by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The CBCP is currently holding its 118th plenary assembly, which will last until Tuesday. Over the last few months, Mr. Duterte, who claimed to have been preyed on in his youth by a priest, has routinely questioned the Church’s teachings and beliefs and attacked bishops who have dared to criticize his administration’s policies.—JOVIC YEE