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AT LEAST three persons, including an American national, were arrested when the authorities raided a drug den in Purok 4, Barangay Manga, Tagbilaran City, Bohol at around 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

The suspects were identified as Esrom Jenkins alias AJ, 42, an American national and alleged drug den maintainer, Jude Benis Bantog, 42, the operation’s target and fisherman from barangay Ubujan in the same city, and April Valiente Ighot, 28, a drug den visitor and fisherman from Barangay Ubujan.

The raid was conducted by the operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA 7), Bohol Police Provincial Office and Tagbilaran City Police Station.

Seized from the suspects were 15 packs of alleged shabu weighing 15 grams with a standard drug price of P102,000, buy-bust money, identification cards and drug paraphernalia.

The American national allegedly rented an apartment in Barangay Manga, which he allegedly used as a hideout with other drug users, according to PDEA 7 information officer Leia Alcantara.

After learning about Jenkins and Bantog's unlawful drug-related conduct from their source, they subjected them to a two-week case buildup.

Alcantara claimed that they also learned that the American national had been residing in the apartment for seven months, despite the fact that he had been residing in Bohol for eight years and had been moving from one place to another.

The suspects are being held at the Tagbilaran City Police Station, while charges in violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 have been filed against them.(AYB, TPT)

  Reina Mae Nasino, an activist whose three-month-old child died while she was in detention, has been acquitted of all charges related to illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

More Bicolanos could ride the Philippine National Railways starting on Monday as the Naga-Ligao route is once again expected to be operational — with the PNR linking the southern Luzon provinces of Camarines Sur and Albay.

RMA Cargo Logistics offers its Direct Consolidation Service, aimed at simplifying and streamlining the process of importing goods from China to Cebu for local business owners.

This service marks a significant milestone in the company's commitment to facilitating international trade and empowering local businesses to thrive in the global market.

Importing goods from China has long been a crucial aspect of Cebu's business landscape, providing an avenue for entrepreneurs to access high-quality products and cater to the diverse needs of the Philippine market. However, the logistics involved in importing can often be complex, time-consuming, and costly, posing challenges to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to expand their operations.

This service enables local business owners to consolidate their shipments from various suppliers in China, efficiently managing freight, and significantly reducing shipping costs and transit times.

The key features of RMA Cargo Logistics' Direct Consolidation Service include:

Efficient Shipment Management: Through meticulous planning and strategic coordination, RMA Cargo Logistics ensures the proper monitoring and coordinating of shipments from different suppliers in China, optimizing the efficiency of the entire logistics process.

Cost Savings: Through our direct consolidation service from China to Cebu, import businesses can now benefit from reduced shipping costs, making it more economically viable to import goods and expand their product offerings.

Timely Delivery: The streamlined process enables faster transit times, ensuring that business owners receive their shipments promptly, enabling them to restock inventories or launch new products with greater agility.

Customized Solutions: RMA Cargo Logistics offers personalized consolidation plans, tailored to meet the specific needs of each business, ensuring a seamless experience and fostering long-term partnerships.

Romel Aropo, CEO and President of RMA Group of Companies, expressed his enthusiasm for this service, saying: 'Our Direct Consolidation Service is a game-changer for local businesses in Cebu. We understand the challenges they face in importing goods from China, and our goal is to simplify the process, making it cost-effective, reliable, and hassle-free. This service is a testament to our commitment to supporting the growth of Cebu's business community.'

RMA Cargo Logistics reaffirms its position as an industry leader for 22 years now, continuously innovating to meet the ever-evolving needs of its customers. As the logistics landscape continues to evolve, RMA Cargo Logistics remains steadfast in its mission to provide solutions that empower local businesses and contribute to the overall growth of Cebu's economy.

For more information about RMA Cargo Logistics and their Consolidation Service, please visit https://www.facebook.com/rmacargo or Viber them at +63 921 237 2678. (PR)

THE Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex transformed its stadium into a magnificent venue for mass wedding that saw 54 couples exchanging their “I dos” on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

Dubbed “Mandaue Nuptials,” the mass wedding was held as part of the city’s celebration of its 54th City's Charter Anniversary on August 1.

There were originally 55 couples who registered for the mass wedding, but one pair failed to show up during the ceremony Thursday.

The mass wedding was organized by the City Government for couples who have long been in a relationship but do not have the means to have their own weddings.

'Tinuod gyud noh atong gihatagan og importansya ang panaghiusa sa couples...there is no such thing as a perfect marriage, hinaot nga ilang palawman ang ilang pag sinabtanay,' said Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes during the ceremony.

(It is true that we should give importance to the union of couples...there is no such thing as a perfect marriage; hopefully, they will deepen theirs with understanding.)

Aside from the free venue and food, the Mandaue City Government also gave each couple cake and wine, along with a bag of rice and a new chopping board as gifts.

The mass wedding will be one of Mandaue City's annual activities for its Charter Day.

'Ato na gyud siguraduhon noh nga kada tuig duna na gyud ta'y mass wedding nga ipahigayon for Charter Day,' said Cortes.

(We will make sure that we will have a mass wedding every year during our city's Charter Day.) (Chrys Chelsea Bernales, UP Cebu Intern)

July 27, 2023 6:20 PM

The duo conquered their 14th highest mountain in just over three months.

It was not immediately clear how many people were on board, but 40 have been rescued, disaster agency chief said.

July 27, 2023 6:13 PM

It is seeking to raise the share of renewable energy to 70 per cent by 2050.

Putting registered SIM cards on sale is “most likely” linked to scams and other crimes, a senator said on Thursday. 

A MOTORCYCLE-for-hire (habal-habal) driver was in critical condition after he was shot multiple times in Sitio Binabag, Barangay Estaca, Compostela town, northern Cebu past midnight on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

The victim was identified as Ruben Cano Mahinay, 53, single, from Barangay Tamiao of the said municipality.

He was rushed to a hospital in Danao City, but was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City for further treatment.

Patrolman Renan Relampagos of the Compostela Police Station told SunStar Cebu that the victim was delivering a passenger when an unidentified person approached him and shot him five times.

The lone shooter fled after the victim collapsed to the ground.

The police are still determining the motive of the crime.(GPL, TPT)

PRIVATE companies in Central Visayas were encouraged to set up lactation stations for working moms as the country celebrates the National Nutrition Month with the theme “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable for All.”

In a Zoom interview with SunStar's Beyond the Headlines, Norre Jean Delos Santos, nutrition officer of Nutritional Councilor-Central Visayas, said providing lactation tations for working mothers is under a provision of Republic Act 10028 or 'Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009.'

The law states that companies must provide private, clean, sanitary and well-ventilated room or areas in the workplace or public places where nursing mothers can wash up, breast feed, or express their milk comfortably and store it afterward.

Delos Santos said this law has been adopted in Cebu's public places such as malls with the backing of regional policies, making sure it was imposed.

'Asking our members of the regional nutrition committee to monitor, support and encourage companies. Kita naas government mao ang mag una para mosunod ning mga private sector,' Delos Santos said.

(Asking our members of the regional nutrition committee to monitor, support and encourage companies. We in the government should spearhead the implementation so that the private sectors will follow.)

Breastfeeding is the first line of defense and protection for babies. It lowers the risks against short- and long-term diseases.

A mother of four, Jeanelyn Condino, 36, said breastfeeding in public was a struggle for her, as her four children were breastfed.

She said that whenever they travel, she always look for a place for lactation as she needs to breastfeed her baby, but there was not enough or adequate place for it.

Condino hopes that more accessible lactation stations will be added in public places for the privacy of the mothers and their babies.

SunStar Cebu has reached out to the Department of Labor and Employment to determine the number of companies that may have implemented the law, but is still awaiting response as of this posting Thursday afternoon, July 27, 2023. (Erica Abella, CNU intern)

Highly anticipated witness Zeti Akhtar Aziz appeared in court for the prosecution in ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak’s corruption trial.

Proclamation 298, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Tuesday, said the conditions that prompted former President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a state of lawlessness “have been significantly mitigated or reduced.” 

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has declared the man in the photo that they recently shared online as the person of interest (POI) in the brutal murder of Rhea Mae Tocmo after a witness came forward to confirm his identification.

According to CCPO Chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, the purpose of the call is to identify the individual in the photo in order to shed light on the ongoing police investigation and solve the death of Tocmo.

A native of Jasaan town in Misamis Oriental, the 19-year-old Tocmo was found dead and wrapped inside a cardboard box left on the roadside in Sitio Mohon, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City on July 17, 2023.

She arrived in Cebu last June 11 to find a job.

Dalogdog revealed that the POI sold the victim's cell phone at a store in the downtown area.

Two days after purchasing the item, the buyer, who requested anonymity, accessed the mobile phone's gallery and discovered Rhea Mae's photos, whose images he had previously seen on social media and who had been murdered and dumped in Tisa.

He then went to the Labangon police station to turn over the cellphone and gave information about the seller.

The buyer claimed that the POI first went to a shop in the Carbon area to have the victim's phone unlocked but was charged P800, which he felt to be extremely expensive, leading him to decide to sell the phone to the buyer for P2,500, but the latter asked to reduce the price to P1,700, which the former agreed.

According to the buyer, the POI initially went to a store in the Carbon area to have the victim's phone unlocked, but was charged P800, which he found to be very expensive, prompting him to decide to sell the phone to the buyer for P2,500.

However, the buyer later requested a price reduction to P1,700, to which the POI consented.

'Ang unang gi attempt niya is iyahang ipa-unlock kasi naka lock ang cellphone eh, so nangutana pilay bayad niingon man nga P800 wala guro siyay ikabayad niadto siya sa usa pero mao gihapon ang bayad up to the point nga ni-decide siya nga ibaligya sa P2,500 nya gihangyo sad siya og P1,700 mao to gibaligya nalang gyud niya. after two days anha pa na discover sa buyer na ang kato diay nga cellphone mao diay to ang gipanag-iya sa biktima nga si Rhea Mae Tocmo,' Dalogdog said.

(He first wanted to unlock the cellphone and was told the payment is P800, but since he may not have had money to pay, he tried another one but he was charged the same amount up to the point that he decided to sell it for P2,500, which was reduced to P1,700. The buyer learned that the phone belonged to the victim, Rhea Mae Tocmo, after two days).

The mobile phone is now in the custody of the PNP Forensic Unit 7 and it is scheduled to be submitted to the PNP Cybercrime Unit-7.

Dalogdog advised the public to inform them right away if they have knowledge on the POI.(AYB, TPT)

THREE residents of Lapu-Lapu City received P10,000 cash each for submitting themselves to a free circumcision despite their age.

The recipients, ages 22, 25, and 28, got circumcised along with 927 others at Hoopsdome, Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

They volunteered to be circumcised after Mayor Junard Chan posted on Facebook that he will give a P10,000 bonus to any 20-year-old and above individuals who will take part in the circumcision program.

'P10,000 bonus sa kadtong magpatuli nga 20 pataas ang edad. Walay apo ni Lapu-Lapu nga pisot,' said Chan in his Facebook post.

(P10,000 bonus for 20 years old and above who will get circumcised. Lapu-Lapu has no uncircumcised grandsons.)

The circumcision program started on July 26 and will run for three days.

The recipients also received free medicines, free ice cream, and free food.

Chan encouraged his constituents who are unable to attend to register for the next day.

He said they will conduct the circumcision from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. until July 28.

The City Government relaunched this “Libreng Tuli” program to accommodate and correspond to the children's needs.

To benefit, the registrant must be a Lapu-Lapu City resident, 7 years old and above, and should complete the pre-registration at the Barangay Health Centers to secure a slot.

Circumcision is the surgical process of removing the skin covering the tip of the male organ. In the Philippines, circumcision is seen as the boys’ rite of passage to adulthood, and health experts have been recommending it for boys due to its health benefits. (GK Marie Dejacto, CNU intern)

PREPARE for the upcoming school year with a hassle-free shopping experience at Robinsons Department Store. Offering an exclusive two-month promotion filled with enticing offers, discounts, and freebies, Robinsons Department Store is your go-to destination for all your back-to-school needs.

Discover a wide range of school items for up to 70 percent off. From uniforms and undergarments to trendy clothing lines, shoes, bags, food containers, school supplies, accessories, personal care products, and beauty items, Robinsons has everything your children need. Even high school and college students can take advantage of amazing deals on their favorite brands.

From July 15 to 31, 2023, receive a FREE lunch bag with every single-receipt purchase of P5,000 or more at any of the 51 Robinsons Department Store branches nationwide. This handy accessory will keep your little one's meals fresh and exciting throughout the school day.

Robinsons Department Store understands your budgeting needs. With a minimum single-receipt purchase of P3,000 and P5,000, enjoy the convenience of paying up to three months and six months later at zero percent interest. These flexible payment schemes are available from July 1 to August 31, in partnership with these participating banks: Bank of Commerce, BDO, BPI, Metrobank, PNB, RCBC, and Security Bank.

Exclusive rewards also await BPI Credit Cardholders! Make a minimum single-receipt straight payment of P5,000, and receive FREE P300 gift certificates. For a minimum single-receipt installment payment of P10,000, enjoy FREE P500 gift certificates.

Avail all these exciting offers, discounts, and freebies at any Robinsons Department Store near you. You can also shop online via GoCart, LazMall, and Shopee Mall. Enjoy the convenience of browsing and purchasing your back-to-school essentials with just a few clicks.

Make the most of your back-to-school shopping at Robinsons Department Store. With unbeatable offers, incredible discounts, and enticing freebies, you'll find everything you need to kick start the new academic year. Hurry and seize these amazing deals before August 31. Get ready for an exciting shopping adventure at Robinsons Department Store and set your children up for a successful school year! (SPONSORED CONTENT)

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he aims to place Malaysia among the top 30 global economies, boost wages and participation of women in the workforce.

Myanmar's civilian leader is serving a 33-year jail sentence after being ousted in a military coup.

Memorandum Circular 26, which was signed Tuesday, adopted the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) 2020 to 2040, which serves as the country’s strategy for infrastructure and medical investments. 

THE civil union that was supposed to take place in Carcar City on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 but was postponed because the marriage officiant was unavailable will now take place on August 1.

On the eve of the planned wedding, the mayor's secretary notified Lee Claire Cabo and her fiancé Paul Patrick Barawigan that the event had to be postponed because the marriage celebrant, Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas, was still in Manila.

Due to this, the couple posted online about their disappointment, which later became viral.

Cabo claimed that they had already spent money for their clothes, food, rented a videoke machine, and invited their family and friends just to be informed that there would be no wedding.

Cabo said that their costs might have been high had they ordered a roasted pig.

“Sa pagkahibawo gyud nako ato nihilak gyud ko sir kay na-andam na baya tanan among besti, mga bisita naingnan na, ang kasal nalang gyud ang kulang,” matod ni Cabo.

(When I found out, sir, I really cried because all our clothes are readied, the guests have already been told, the only thing missing is the wedding).

The couple have been living together for eight years.

When Mayor Barcenas learned about the incident, he immediately called Cabo to apologize on Thursday, July 27.

He also promised to give the couple a roasted pig and attend their wedding reception.(BBT, TPT)