Feed aggregator

ROTCHE Tocmo Poblacion pleaded with those responsible in the brutal killing of her younger sister, Rhea Mae Tocmo, to surrender.

Poblacion and their father arrived in Cebu City to claim Rhea Mae’s body that was found inside a cardboard box along the roadside in Sitio Mohon 1, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City last Monday, July 17, 2023.

The victim's identification was established when Poblacion, a married 31-year-old from Panabo, Davao del Norte, and their father Romeo went to see Rhea Mae at the Saint Francis funeral home on Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

The teary-eyed Rotche pleaded with the criminals to surrender.

She revealed that her younger sister was brutally murdered.

The 19-year-old Rhea Mae was the youngest of three sisters.

She was left in Rotche's care when she was 3 years old when their parents got separated.

Rotche claimed that among other things, her younger sister assisted with cooking and other home tasks.

Being a quiet child with no known enemy, Rotche said she could not imagine that somebody would kill Rhea Mae.

Rotche said Rhea Mae asked permission to work in a restaurant, but she did not mention where.

She added they just learned that Rhea was in Cebu after the latter asked them to book tickets for her flight home.

"Ayaw patulga, Rhea Mae. Ayaw patulga, Day. Hasula siya, hasula hangtod nga mamatay siya sa iyang konsensya. Hasula ang nagbuhat nimo ani day, wa syay kaluoy. Pila ray kusog nimo, day. Gamay kaayo kag lawas, nya ing-adtuon ka nila. Wa gyuy kaluoy." Rotche said while in tears.

(Don't let him go to sleep, Rhea Mae. Don't, day. Let his conscience bother him until he dies. Bother the person who hurt you, he shows no mercy. You are very small, yet they did this to you).

Meanwhile, the Cebu City police had already communicated with the boardmate and landlady of Rhea Mae.

The victim's landlady and roommate admitted that someone had taken Rhea Mae last week but that they did not know where she was heading, according to Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, the head of the Cebu City Police Office.

The police also got a copy of the CCTV footage that was taken 20 to 30 meters away from the victim's boarding house in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City, where the victim can be seen riding the orange motorcycle driven by an unidentified man.

According to Dalogdog, they will also check the CCTV footage of nearby establishments to figure out where they went.(GPL, AYB, TPT)

A LANDSLIDE that occurred in Barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City around 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, 2023, has forced the evacuation of at least one household.

Barangay Councilor Kelly Quijada, Capitol Site barangay councilor and committee on disaster and health head, told SunStar Cebu on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, that the evacuated household is composed of six individuals who were renters of the house owned by Ramon Lapiz.

Quijada said no injuries were reported during the landslide incident because the barangay disaster team was able to warn the household in time due to the early detection of cracks in the riprap.

Quijada said the individuals affected were initially evacuated to a nearby chapel in the Capitol Site. They sought shelter with their relatives in Labangon on Wednesday.

He also said that the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) is currently assessing the area to identify any other locations that may be at risk of future landslides.

He said the barangay disaster team is closely monitoring and has cordoned off the affected area to ensure the safety of the residents and prevent any further incidents. (AML)

The groups held a joint press conference on Wednesday to lay down workers' demands as Marcos prepares to speak before a joint session of Congress to report on government programs and to set the administration's legislative agenda.

WITH the performances that USJ-R Adelante and UCLM Webmasters displayed in their matches, an epic shootout in the CEL (Cesafi Esports League) pre-season Valorant finals is expected.

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) is a sports and academic association of schools, colleges and universities in Metro Cebu. Valorant, a 5v5 first-person shooter game, was newly introduced for CEL Season 2.

Display of Dominance

With the skills of Alfi Angelo “vblack” Lua, Ken Benedict “Ster” Bolondro, Francis Mark Nikko “Baby” Diwa, Richnel Reign “ReigN” Cabugoy, Kurt Stanly “Astababy” Laurido, and Abdul Rafi “Rababz” Biyala, the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Adelante dominated the Group Stage of the competition.

USJ-R won its first game against the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) “Panthers” (13-3). The team went up against the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) for its next game. With a combined record of 41 kills, 18 deaths and 13 assists in the two games, Astababy was hailed as most valuable player (MVP). USJ-R went to the semifinals after winning their match in the second week against the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, which helped them conclude the Group Stage with a 3-0 record. The series MVP, vblack, tallied a total of 46 kills and 10 assists.

Rising to the challenge

After a rough start losing to USJ-R, the UCLM Webmasters found its footing and claimed the second seed in its group.

The fierce team is composed of Markly Bry “P4nch” Canton, Rigil Kent “FlappyBeard” Payo, Louie Jay “Bokii” Labajo, Justin “RAID BOSS” Castilla, Kent Jyls “Zeinz” Noel, and Sumael Gabriel “shm0ke” Pino.

UCLM redeemed itself later that day, going up against the USPF Panthers, securing a 13-4 win in their favor. P4nch was the MVP, boasting an average combat score of 377. For Week 2, it was another great showing for P4nch with a 13-4 victory, this time against the University of the Philippines-Cebu (UP-C). The first six rounds went back and forth, until UCLM gained a rush of momentum that UP-C could not contest with.

USJ-R and UCLM will clash on July 29, 2023 to determine the pre-season Valorant champion.

MEMBERS of Urban Poor Alliance (UP ALL) held their first-ever ecumenical prayer Wednesday, July 19, 2023, as they celebrate the demolition of the “culvert” that was constructed along the seashore in Barangay Inayawan.

The six-year-old culvert was a project of the local government to serve as a shortcut access for garbage trucks going to the Barangay Inayawan landfill.

It was demolished in June 2023 as it affects fishing of people living in at least six barangays, including Barangay Mambaling, Basak San Nicolas, Inayawan and Bulacao where fishing is the primary source of income.

UP ALL president Gemma Rosacena said their alliance is a sectoral group that consists of fisherfolk, homeowners, vendors and women group. They aim to fight problems inside their community.

“Ang ato ani para mas dako ang atong coverage ba, para sa pag sulong nato sa atong mga problema ngadto sa City Hall, sa LGU. So murag nadungog man sad kay tungod nagkadako ang among grupo,” she said.

(The expansion of our alliance is to have greater coverage, and to raise and advance our problems to the City Hall, the LGU. And because our group is growing, it seems that they heard us.)

She said the demolition of the culvert was one of the alliance’s goals and that they are happy that the City Government demolished it this year, saying it was one of their major problems that affect their livelihood.

“Kani nga culvert natukod ni tungod kay para shortcut sa agian sa dumping (trucks). Pero wala na consider nila nga asa man padong ang mga sakayan,” Rosacena said.

(This culvert was constructed to provide a shortcut route for dumping trucks. However, they did not consider the pathway for the 'bancas', or where they will pass through.)

In September 2022, through the determination of the fisherfolk and affected nearby barangays, an executive session was held in City Hall to discuss the demolition, which was decided by the City Council through a resolution.

Aside from the ecumenical prayer, the group also held a fluvial parade that started at the bridge beside the University of Cebu-METC, down to SRP Mambaling, connecting to the Inayawan culvert to celebrate their victory. (GK Marie Dejacto and Kimberly Goc-ong, CNU interns)

July 19, 2023 6:59 PM

The Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas is a popular trip for tourists seeking a glimpse of the North.

SOME Cebu City residents have shared mixed reactions on the resumption of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation on the killings in the Philippines related to the controversial drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The ICC appeals chamber has granted the request to resume the probe, with three out of five judges saying yes, rejecting the Philippine government’s appeal where it argued that the ICC cannot exercise jurisdiction over the country’s situation because it has withdrawn membership from the Rome Statute.

Milo Echavez, a 31-year-old motorcycle mechanic from Barangay Labangon in Cebu City, said the investigation should be continued.

"Dapat lang oy nga madayon na. Daghan kaayo'g inosente nga mga tao ang gipang patay nila," he said.

(It is only right that it pushes through. A number of innocent people had been killed.)

"Justice should be served for the families atong mga inosente oy. Katong mga adik jud, aw sakto ra pero luoy kaayo ‘tong mga inosente," said Merry, a shop owner near T. Padilla Public Market.

(Justice should be served for the families of innocent victims. Those guilty deserved it but the innocent ones are very unfortunate.)

A BPO employee from Barangay Banilad felt doubtful about it, but wished the Philippine government would cooperate with the ICC to avoid further conflict.

"I think the best move for the government is to cooperate, because do they really want to incite trouble with the ICC? It would get very messy for us here," she said.

"I agree. Kung wala'y gitagoan ang gobyerno just like they say, nganong di man sila mu cooperate diba? Something's fishy jud kay mu rason pa sila nga maka intrude sa ato when in fact dapat man lang jud iinvestigate ning killings atong drug war," another BPO employee said.

(I agree. If the government isn't hiding anything just like they say, then why are they refusing to cooperate? Something's fishy if they have to reason out that the ICC is intruding us when in fact, the drug war killings should actually be investigated.)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously said that he will not cooperate with the ICC, noting that it does not have jurisdiction over the country.

A 45-year-old bottled water vendor agreed with Marcos, saying the probe should not be conducted.

"Dapat di na sila mang-hilabot oy. Sakto ra man sad tong gipamatay sa drug war kay mga kriminal man to sila. Ngita ra na sila'g gubot, kanang ICC," he said.

(They should not intrude. It was only right that those people were killed in the drug war since they were criminals. The ICC is only looking for trouble.) (Miguel Angelu Lumen, CNU intern)

The UK Government will soon roll out the red carpet to host Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, despite the country's grave human rights abuses both at home and abroad.

Chief among the subjects expected to be discussed is the UK's pursuit of a Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, where Sau

July 19, 2023 6:40 PM

A clip uploaded on TikTok showed the couple sitting just centimetres away from a very steep fall.

SIX most wanted persons were among the people arrested by personnel of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) in operations conducted from July 10 to 16, 2023, an official said Wednesday, July 19.

In a press briefing Wednesday, City Director Police Colonel Elmer Lim said they arrested on July 11 the eighth most wanted person in the city, Ramon Ignacio Tampus Jr., 25, a resident of Barangay Pajac, for illegal drugs charges.

Gilbert Berdon Jumao-as, 48, from Babag II, Lapu-Lapu City, was also nabbed on the same day. He was considered the ninth most wanted person in Lapu-Lapu.

The third most wanted, Arnel Relativo Sumayang, 36, a resident of Barangay Basak, was also nabbed on July 11 and charged with two counts of rape.

Ronilo Labra Pulvera, alias "Longlong," the fourth most wanted person, was arrested in Barangay Mactan for selling and obtaining illegal drugs also on July 11.

Another wanted person, Lucrisio Tumanan Ruiz Jr., 22, a resident of Barangay Marigondon, was nabbed in Barangay Agus also on July 11.

Ruiz was identified as the fifth most wanted person.

Meanwhile, Maria Carmel Ybañez Alison, 53, of Barangay Pajo, surrendered to the police headquarters in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City on July 12.

Alison was charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of acts of lasciviousness. Her victims were also women.

Other arrests

Lim said that the LLCPO has charged a total of 2,999 persons for violating local ordinances from July 10-16, 2023.

He said that 1,619 people were also charged for violating traffic ordinances, adding that there were 30 people who were issued Temporary Operator's Permit.

A total of 148 minors were found violating curfew.

The LLCPO also recorded 316 persons who were caught dressing half naked in streets, while there 18 cases for urinating, littering, dumping garbage and spitting in public places.

Drinking and smoking in prohibited and public places, and using karaoke beyond allowed time recorded 861 counts, while seven cases were marked unclassified.

Lim said that around 1,723 cases were fined accordingly, allowing the LLCPO to collect P993,500 in fee charges.

Anti-illegal drug operations

Also from July 10 to 16, the Lapu-Lapu City police conducted a total of 12 anti-illegal drug operations.

Sixteen persons tagged as street level individuals (SLI) were arrested and a total of 81.32 grams of shabu were seized.

As for the anti-illegal gambling operations, the LLCPO has so far conducted eight operations that resulted in the arrest of eight people.

Two persons were also arrested for illegal possession of firearms, while two have surrendered.

Lim said they will continue to intensify their operations to reduce crime and eliminate disorder in Lapu-Lapu.

He said they have coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), local officials and other law enforcement units and partner agencies to ensure a relentless campaign against all forms of criminality.

“Nanawagan ko pa balik-balik nga tabangan nato ang atong mga kapulisan ug gobyerno, nga atong mga turista o foreigner’s na ma biktima sa krimen, kay tungod sila ang nakatabang og dako sa atoang economiya,” said Lim. (CNU intern Judie Liza Alantoson and UP intern Chrys Chelsea Bernales)

It is defined as good sense and sound judgment in practical matters. It is the ability to view reality. I wish all local government leaders have the same common-sense approach as Parian, Cebu City Barangay Captain Lucita Lazarte and her officials to the problem of flooding in their barangay, particularly on Bonifacio St., which I presumed was named after our hero Andres Bonifacio.

On many occasions I pass by Bonifacio St. on my way to the city from Mandaue. I simply cannot believe that the street is inundated with water after every downpour. This place reminds me of my early years in college when I once lived in a boarding house, which was just walking distance from my cherished University of the Visayas.

According to Barangay Captain Lazarte, apart from Bonifacio St., Sikatuna and Ibarra Streets also experience flooding, especially after heavy downpours. To mitigate the problem of flooding in their barangay, the officials installed a biofence on the Parian creek, trapping garbage that was indiscriminately dumped in the waterway.

The flooding on Bonifacio, Sikatuna and Ibarra Streets during heavy rains is aggravated by all types of garbage that are washed down from the upper part of the city. Lazarte said the other factor that contributes to the flooding problem in their barangay is the accumulation of mud after a rainfall.

Lazarte said dredging of the river and clearing of clogged drainage in the area are ongoing. “Amo na pirmi nga gitrabaho (We have been working on it),” she told SunStar Cebu. However, Lazarte acknowledged that Bonifacio St. is prone to flooding because it is located on the lower part of the city and acts like a “catch basin” for water and waste from higher ground.

Lazarte said they regularly dredge the creek along Bonifacio St. The recent dredging was on July 15. But Lazarte admitted that their flood mitigation efforts do not guarantee the complete prevention of flooding in the area.

She said they clean every day the biofence installed on the Parian creek as it traps garbage like plastic, logs, clothes and other debris daily. The barangay also holds a weekly clean-up, Lazarte said. The village chief said educating the people on proper waste disposal is important to address the issue.

“I hope people will be taught not to throw garbage in canals and rivers,” she said.

Barangay Parian’s installation of a biofence is one solution to address the clogging of the waterway that other barangays should emulate. While the biofence does not guarantee the complete prevention of flooding in the barangay, it helps tidy the waterway that has been used as a dumpsite by senseless residents.

Madam Barangay Captain Lazarte, your barangay and the City Government should not only educate the people not to throw garbage in canals and creeks, but you, as officials vested with the authority under our laws, should apprehend residents and transients that litter our streets and use the canals and creeks as their dumpsite.

Literally throwing the book at the violators is the best way to educate these mindless and selfish people. Our city can never achieve the Singapore-like dream of Mayor Mike Rama if environment and sanitation laws are not enforced to the letter.

The way I see it the problem is that we are too politicized. With the forthcoming elections for barangay officials and the next midterm polls, I doubt if current elected officials, who can still seek reelection, have the willpower to strictly implement our laws.

As one of the authors of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) in the House of Representatives, I express my utmost gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for recognizing the significance of this transformative legislation.

Ang MIF ay hahawi ng landas tungo sa masagana at matatag na kinabukasan para sa Bagong Pilipinas, at magbubukas ng mga bagong oportunidad para sa paglago at pag-unlad ng iba’t ibang sektor ng ating ekonomiya, lalo pa sa aming mga taga-kanayunan.

(The MIF will pave the way to a prosperous and stable future for the New Philippines, and will open new opportunities for the growth and development of different sectors of our economy, especially for our rural people.)

The newly signed law gives foreign and local investors an added option on how to make their investible funds earn. This becomes one among many options and caters to specific types of clientele or kinds of investors, depending on the appetite for earnings and risks.

MIF will be a great addition to foreign direct investments (FDIs). FDIs are investments that actually happen on the ground, build businesses, grow the environment for other businesses, whether downstream, upstream, and lateral enterprises, and most importantly, create jobs.

FDIs come with an intense commitment to the country’s and host communities’ future.

The Maharlika Fund, combined with attracting foreign direct investments, is potent. Bringing in FDI means ease of doing business, infrastructure, transparency, integrity in business, and economic policies that make workers, investors, and host communities welcome and interact harmoniously.

Today is a sad day in the history of our country, as the State through the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) will be engaging, unjustifiably, in an economic activity (risky investing) which is best left to the private sector.

This is madness for the following reasons, among others:

(1) The Maharlika Fund concept was developed on the fly. If it were an airplane, then it was built while flying it. Thus, the law has inherent contradictions because it was rushed. Nobody knows what creature we have created. It could turn out to be a monster, as it has been designed to be a super-GOCC (government-owned and –controlled corporation).

(2) The Philippines has no surplus either from the budget or from trade. We have not hit any jackpot windfall profit like a cash flow from a new discovery of oil or gas reserves. In short, we have no underlying asset to continuously back up and fund this MIF to ensure its long-term existence.

(3) The funds to be initially used are already existing funds under the care of conservatively run government banks. We are disturbing the status quo because the Government wants to take more risks with the money and gamble it, under their mantra of “more risks, more returns.”

Because of the unclear origin of the seed idea of this particular MIF, the speed at which the law was enacted which involved unconstitutional shortcuts, and the inherent contradictions and clear confusion in the law itself, the MIF will definitely be questioned before the Supreme Court (SC), basically under the following grounds:

1. Defective Presidential Certification

a. No public emergency or calamity being addressed

b. Hence, no three readings on three separate days

2. No showing of Economic Viability

3. Undue Delegation of Legislative Power

a. Surrender of the Budget Process by Congress

b. Leaving to the IRR (implementing rules and regulations) the determination of many important matters

4. Violation of Substantive Due Process

a. Insists on being a Sovereign Wealth Fund when it is not

b. Inherent contradictions and confusion

5. Violation of BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) Independence

6. The Bill signed by the President was not the version passed by Congress (this we will call the “altered bill doctrine”)

The MIF is a bad idea, a bad decision, a bad act.

Without the required surplus, in the face of our current P14.1 trillion outstanding debt, the signing into law of the MIF Act could significantly exacerbate our national debt.

Hindi pa ba tayo napapagod sa kakaisip ng mga paraan kung papaano pa natin papalakihin ang utang natin (Aren’t we tired of thinking of ways to increase our debt)?

A recent survey revealed that 80 percent of Filipinos admit to having little to no knowledge about the proposed measure. Moreover, when asked about the potential benefits from the newly established Maharlika fund, over half (51 percent) anticipate little to no advantage from it.

In light of these findings, a more considerate and beneficial course of action for the Filipino people would have been for the President to veto this measure. This would have paved the way for a more meaningful and comprehensive discussion about the MIF among our people and not just among legislators.

Hence, to put a stop to this madness, the Maharlika Investment Fund Act must be challenged before the SC. Let us remind the powers that be that “MIF” can also mean “Madness Isn’t Forever.”

He spent time in a detention facility after getting into fights and hitting a police car in Seoul.

THE countdown for Cebu Marathon 2024 started Wednesday, July 19, 2023, as representatives from the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC) unveiled the many firsts’ athletes and participants will experience on January 14, 2024.

John Owen Zaldarriaga Pages, CERC representative and Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC) chairman, announced during the launching Wednesday, July 19, the new race distances and surprises they have prepared exclusively for the runners participating in Cebu Marathon 2024.

“Let’s start with our distances, we are making it different. We are going to have four distances starting, of course, with 42K and instead with the 21K, since it’s 2024, we are going to have a 24K,” said Pages.

He added that to pose an extra challenge to the runners, the events’ organizers have changed the usual 10K and 5K to 12K and 6K, accordingly, to complete the new four offered race distances.

Among the many firsts, Pages also mentioned their partnership with Salt Plus Fin, a local sportswear brand in Cebu, where all registered participants will receive jerseys.

Also, finishers of the 42K and 24K races will get a towel and medal at the finish line, a similar gesture to Ironman events where towels are handed out after the race.

Registration and rates

Online registration will start on July 22, 2023 at their official website: cebumarathon.com.ph.

Meyrick Jacalan, a CERC representative, said an early bird rate will be granted until September 30, 2023. It will be open to all race distances.

Jacalan added that the early bird rates will start at P1,999 for 42K, P1,799 for 24K, and P799 for both 12K and 6K.

On October 1, regular charges will start at P2,499 for 42K, P2,299 for 24K, and P999 for both 12K and 6K.

Special freebies will also be given to runners, such as medals, towels, and t-shirts, while the first 1,024 registrants of the 42K and 24K category will be given free premium visors.

Routes

Familiar but this time a brand-new series of routes will serve the marathoners, said Pages.

For the 42K distance, runners will be treated to a combination of iconic spots in Cebu, from Plaza Independencia, Colon Streets, Magellan's Cross, Fuente Osmeña, the Capitol and Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).

The CERC board also decided to unfold the routes as early as possible to give a head start for attendees to train in advance.

They will start the marathon at 12:24 a.m. to avoid the traffic congestion and to allow marathoners to begin their race in comfortable weather.

The organizers chose to launch the event six months prior to allow the participants to have a longer time to prepare themselves for the competition.

‘Easy in mind, hard in reality’

Jesse Taborada, president of CERC, said many marathoners underestimate the demand of joining a marathon -- it costs long training, discipline, and diet check.

“If you cut corners, you may have problems and difficulties along the way, not to mention the accidents that can come along the way,” said Taborada.

Kats Cajucom of AIA Vitality, a major partner of the Cebu Marathon organizer, also shared her advice to the participants with regards to an athlete's food intake.

“It takes longer to prepare and it really requires discipline to run a marathon, not only physically but mentally and even the food that you eat,” said Cajucom.

“I think in the training you really learn how to be disciplined,” she added.

In the same way they are preparing for the event, she urged the participants to have month-long preparation to at least train their body to become accustomed to longer distances. (Denise Mae Codis and Claudine Flores, CNU interns)

THE police are investigating if personal grudge or illegal drugs may have been involved in the killing of a man and his son in Sitio Bokyol, Barangay Poblacion 3, Carcar City, southern Cebu on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

The victims were identified as Junie Barcenilla and his son Randel, both residents of Barangay Sacsac, Aloguinsan town, midwest Cebu.

They were returning home on a motorcycle after delivering their supply of eggplants to the Carcar City Public Market, when the two gunmen riding in tandem shot them repeatedly, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Gifter Sucalit, the head of the Carcar City Police Station.

They each bore eight gunshot wounds.

The authorities recovered several bullet casings of an unknown caliber from the crime scene.

The empty bullet shells will be subjected to a ballistic examination.

Junie was arrested last year for illegal drugs but was later released, thus the police are now looking into his involvement in illegal drug activity.

Sucalit revealed that because Junie was growing vegetables to sell in the Carcar market, they were unable to monitor him if he resumed using illegal drugs.

The CCTV cameras in the area are now being checked by the police to provide leads in the investigation.

Sucalit called on those who witnessed the crime to come to their office.(AYB, TPT)

MOTORCYCLES traversing the South Coastal Road will have a designated lane -- outermost right lane -- at the South Road Properties (SRP) beginning July 19, 2023, as mandated by the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO).

A document forwarded to SunStar Cebu by CCTO legal officer Kent Frasco Jongoy showed that the Cebu City Traffic Management Committee (TMC-Com) has approved the TMC Resolution 0–005-2022, which establishes the motorcycle lane pilot testing areas at the SRP and N. Bacalso Avenue for one month upon the completion of the installation of signages in the areas.

Majority of the committee members also approved to move forward with establishing motorcycle lanes in all outer rightmost lanes from SRP Talisay City border until S. Osmeña Boulevard in the North Reclamation Area of Cebu City-Mandaue City.

The mandate was made under the grounds of safety for the motorcycle riders and to minimize road accidents that involve motorcycles in the South Coastal Road.

Early this year, several motorcycle accidents were recorded, resulting in serious injury and even death.

On April 28, 2023, a motorcycle rider died on the spot after he was pinned down by a tanker truck while traveling at the viaduct of the SRP.

To avoid these unfortunate accidents in the future, the CCTO saw the motorcycle lane as the immediate solution, saying it prevents the “weaving in and out of lanes” of vehicles on the road, which is the common reason for road mishaps.

In the pilot implementation of the mandate, the CCTO Education Sector conducted an information drive to the motorists traversing the coastal road to heightened awareness on Wednesday, July 19. (Erica Abella, CNU intern)

THE police will file a lawsuit against the man who went wild inside the chapel in Barangay Luz, Cebu City, while a wake was being held.

Bryan Tarucan, 41, a construction worker who lives in the area but is a native of Borbon town, northern Cebu, showed up at the wake held for a 62-year-old woman inside a chapel in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Luz, on Monday night, July 17, 2023 and broke the coffin’s glass and assaulted the dead.

His older brother, Rex, said the suspect was not in the right state of mind as he was intoxicated.

The deceased’s relatives retaliated by mauling Tarucan, whose face was swollen with bruises and cuts.

According to Police Major Eraño Regidor, chief of the Mabolo Police Station, they will file a case of malicious mischief against the suspect.

Rex revealed that his younger brother apologized for what he did.

When his younger brother gets out, Rex said they will bring him to Borbon to do farming there.

"Daku kaayo ang iyang pagbasol sir, nagpatabang siya kay kung makagawas siya mag bag-o na daw siya sa iyang kinabuhi, mouli na lang daw siya sa Borbon adto na lang daw siya manimuyo didto," according to Rex.

(He is really sorry, sir, he is asking for help because if he gets out (of prison), he plans to reform his life and return to Borbon and settle there).

In a media interview, Bryan admitted his crime.

Additionally, he admitted that he was taking liquor and illegal drugs at the time he tried to get custody of his oldest child.

"Ako unta kuhaon ang akong anak ang kamagwangan nako, nasuko ang mga igsuon sa akong asawa unya gitabangan ko nila mao to nidagan ko mao ning bogbog ni ang akung nawong maong didto ko napunta. Motug-an gyud ko sir sa tinuod wala gyud ko mag lipud-lipud. Naa ang Ginoo dili ko mamakak sir naka-droga ko ato," according to Bryan.

(I was about to take my oldest child, but my wife’s brothers attacked me, so I fled and ended up there (in the chapel). Sir, I'm being honest. God knows I’m not lying, sir; I was just drugged up).

Bryan was captured on camera punching the deceased person's coffin as it lay inside the chapel of Sitio San Roque on Cabantan Street.

The video quickly went viral on social media.

The defendant admitted that while he was unable to remember what he had done, he could remember being pulled by the barangay tanods and being mauled by the people around him.

The suspect, who sustained bruises in his face, is willing to make amends with the deceased's family.(AYB, TPT)

July 19, 2023 6:00 PM

The Taliban govt has been reducing women's social spaces in the public sphere since taking power.

What are the powers of an “ex officio” chairperson, and to what extent can they call the shots on the Maharlika Investment Fund?