NEWS BRIEFS

CASH FUEL SUBSIDY AVAILABLE

AT least 60 percent of jeepney drivers in Central Visayas have collected their Pantawid Pasada gas subsidy cards, said the Department of Energy in Central Visayas (DOE-7).

Nationwide, about 7,000 of 12,000 jeepney drivers claimed their cards.

Without it, drivers have no chance of collecting free gasoline, DOE-7 Regional Director Antonio Labios told the Kapihan press conference of the Philippine Information Agency yesterday.

Last year, the susidy was P1,150 worth of free gas per card. An additional P1,200 was loaded last January 29.

The national government allocated P450 million for the subsidy program. Labios said they still have P200 million set aside.

Unclaimed cards were already turned over to the DOE central office. Labios said some jeepney drivers may not have completed the requirements such as validation of their vehicles’ franchises. . Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya

CASE DISMISSED AGAINST BLOCKTIMER

A CEBU City trial court dismissed one of the cases filed against a radio block timer accused of duping a man in barangay Apas, Cebu City.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge James Himalaloan said he has no authority to decide on the charge of “other deceits” that was supposed to be filed before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC).

He ordered the case aganst Arman Cuban dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon said they will withdraw the case and will refile it with the MTCC.

Cuban was accused of violating the Revised Penal Code provision on “other deceits” for telling Ferdinance Amores that Amores’ land contained gold deposits worth billions of pesos.

Cuban, who is out on bail, hosts a Sunday morning program on radio station dyLA

Cuban allegedly told Amores in May 2011 that gold deposits in his land could only be extracted through prayer using black candles worth P70,000.

Amores paid him P82,000 to buy the candles and containers. The prosecutor said Cuban just wanted make money by fooling Amores. Cuban didn’t file any counteraffidavit to refute the charge.. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

WASTE LAW VIOLATION

A CEBU City-based septic tank company was fined P11,500 for dumping human wastes in a manhole in Mandaue city last week.

Mandaue City’s Solid Waste Management Office sanctioned the firm for illegal disposing of the fecal matter in H. Abellana Street, barangay Canduman.

Northern Septic Tank Service was spotted by a barangay councilor.

It was penalized for violating Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza