Newsbriefs

CONTRACTOR WANTS CAPITOL TO PAY UP

A CONTRACTOR sought payment anew from the province for a P34.6-million infrastructure project it completed during the administration of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Edgar Sarmiento, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sarmiento Construction Inc. said it was unfair of the provincial government to delay payment for its completed infrastructure projects.

He said while the contracts weren’t ratified by the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) because it wasn’t required by Garcia, it passed a “post auditing review” by the Commission on Audit (COA).

“In all fairness to us contractors, we seek assistance from your end by ratifying our contracts for us to be paid on our long overdue claims,” Sarmiento’s Dec. 12 letter read.

The construction firm is one of the 31 contractors that are still unpaid by the provincial government because the contracts were not approved by the PB.

Provincial Treasurer Emmanuel Guial said the province owes the contractors P607.2 million. The biggest payable is P188.8 million owed to WTG Construction and Development Corp.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said he will meet with provincial attorney Orvi Ortega and provincial administrator Mark Tolentino to deal with the demands of the contractors. Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos

NEW OFFICE FOR PROVINCE, REGIONAL FISCALS

A BUILDING along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City became the temporary office of both the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and the Regional State Prosecutor’s Office since last month.

Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane said yesterday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) picked the Taft Commercial Center building for the two prosecutor offices.

Gubalane said the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office chose to remain near the Palace of Justice building that was severely damaged by last year’s Oct. 15 earthquake.

Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba said provincial prosecutors will handle inquest proceedings at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) building beside the Palace of Justice even if they transferred at the Taft Commercial Center.

Petralba said the DOJ and owners of Taft Commercial Center entered into a contract for the prosecutors to stay at the building while the Palace of Justice will be repaired.

She said the DOJ is paying Taft Commercial Center P180,000 every month for occupying the second and third floor of the building.

The Palace of Justice where the prosecution services in Cebu and Central Visayas used to hold office was deemed “unfit for occupancy” by the Office of the Building Official (OBO) due to last year’s earthquake.

Cebu City prosecutors refused to leave the Palace of Justice since they are staying at the ground floor which didn’t sustain major structural damage.

Asst. City Prosecutor Gandhi Truya said they requested the OBO to reinspect the Palace of Justice.

“If doctors make a mistake, I think the same goes for engineers. How many hours did the OBO inspect the building? One to two hours? I hope they will specify what particular damage the Palace of Justice sustained. Hopefully, they will re-assess their findings. Every decision is subject to reconsideration,” he said. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

CLUB’S CLOSURE ORDER STILL STANDS

THE lawyer for the Las Vegas Music Lounge was unable to meet Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to discuss about lifting the closure order on the club.

Lawyer Innocencio dela Cerna said the club’s employees haven’t been paid since the club was closed last Dec. 23.

“It doesn’t even include the suppliers. Let’s just forget about the women because they’re not employees,” he said.

Rama met with City Hall department heads at the time. Dela Cruz waited for more than an hour before he finally left the mayor’s office past noontime.

Dela Cerna said he was also prepared to appear before the City Anti-Indecency Board (CAIB) if called to a meeting.

“I will not just give in for the sake of giving. Dili na pwede ang hubo hubo (Nudity is prohibited),” he said.

Rama said the music lounge management will have to assure him that they will only be operating a “wholesome” business.

The mayor said while it is okay to operate a music lounge offering liquor, singing and dancing to its customers, he will insist on prohibiting lewd shows. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac