Newsbriefs

CFI COOP need not register as NGO, PABLING INSISTS

Former Cebu congressman Pablo Garcia said Cebu CFI Community Cooperative Inc. saw no need to renew its accreditation as a partner NGO (nongovernment organization) of the Cebu provincial government as the country’s Cooperative Code automatically gives recognition to cooperatives.

Garcia, husband of retired judge Esperanza Fiel Garcia, who founded the Cebu CFI Community Coop, said all local government units (LGUs) in the country are mandated by the Cooperative Code to automatically recognize cooperatives. “Any LGU should recognize the coop. It is also under the Local Government Code. Besides we’re not an NGO. We don’t need to renew,” he said.

Garcia’s wife continues to represent the NGOs in Provincial Development Council (PDC) meetings.

A 2004 provincial ordinance requires NGOs and other civil society organizations to file for renewal of their accreditation before the Provincial Board for evaluation and approval. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also required the provincial government to submit a list of accredited civil society organizations (CSOs) last Sept. 13. The Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) already came up with a list last week which included CFI. /Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos

JVR allies admit text message on rally plans

ALLIES of Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes admitted receiving a text message calling on people to join a rally against the mayor’s administration to be held on Oct. 8.

Councilors Alvin Diaz and Val Ylanan said the text message was forwarded to them by the mayor himself, who reportedly received it from his elder brother, Joel.

The message reads: Mayor gud morning, karong October 8 duna koy nakuha nga information mag rally sila Vice mayor, Hon.Val Ylanan, Hon. Alvin ug uban pa kabahin ni sa imo pagdala sa city hall, pero ang ila ipagawas nga storya ka Gullas nga grupo pero sila ang nagpaluyo karong October 8. Joel ni mayor (Mayor good morning. On Oct. 8, I received information that Vice Mayor, Honorable Val Ylanan, Honorable Alvin and others allied with you in running City Hall, but they will make it appear that it came from the Gullas group, but they will lead it on Oct. 8).”

Diaz and Ylanan denied there are plans to stage a rally against the mayor, saying their relationship with delos Reyes remains strong. Ylanan said he even advised Mayor delos Reyes not to issue a permit to those organizing the rally.

Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante said the text message was a demolition job done by the Alayon party headed by former congressman Eduardo Gullas. / Correspondent Gabriel C. Bonjoc

Complaint filed against suspected poll violators

A CRIMINAL complaint was filed against five people accused of falsifying the birth certificates of some candidates for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

The complaint filed by lawyer Julius Ceasar Entise for his client Rosa Cristy Quidlat, named the respondents as Dennis Lauranilla, Regino Alcarez, Sherwin Agunias, Richard Abella and Lemar Alcover of barangay Sambag I. “It is humbly requested that a preliminary investigation be done immediately,” Entise said in a complaint filed before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

In her sworn affidavit, Quidlat said she was surprised to see two children of people she knew who got registered for the elections even if they were not qualified. The two 18-year-olds identified as Francis Kim Bacus and Shane Baquiano said in their affidavits that they were told by Lauranilla to go to the headquarters of the ANAD partylist headed by the Alcover family. They saw the other named respondents in the headquarters and were told that they should fill out an application for registration as a requirement to play in a basketball league. But they didn’t have their birth certificates at that time. “Dennis Lauranilla told me that the absence of my birth certificate is not a problem because they will just make a birth certificate for me,” the two said in their affidavits. Alcover allegedly promised to give them P100 each for registering but only received P50 each. Quidlat obtained copies of the registration forms of the two from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) north district office. /Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita