Top news stories of 2015

January

• SK Elections

While the bill seeking to reform the SangguniangKabataan was pending, the Senate's committee on local government approved to defer the SK elections to October 2015 from its original schedule of February. However, about two months later, President Benigno Aquino III signed into law the bill that would postpone the elections to October 2016. Aquino signed Republic Act 10656 or "An Act Postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to the Last Monday of October 2016" on March 25. The new law would synchronize the SK polls with the barangay elections.

• Fire hits Danao offices

A late night fire razed seven offices in Danao City on January 25. An explosion was heard at the second floor of the old City Hall building, which was built just after World War II, and the fire spread to other parts of the structure, including the Parole and Probation Office and the offices of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Parole, Senior Citizens, and Public Employment Service, which were all housed in the building. The fire also hit the office of the city police and burned some of its firearms and weapons, including several explosives.

• City officials told to refund P80M calamity fund

The Commission on Audit ordered Cebu City officials who received P20,000 as calamity aid following the October 2013 magnitude 7.2 earthquake to refund the money. COA said the release was irregular because those who received were not affected by the calamity directly. Quoting the Local Government Code, COA said government funds should be spent to pay for supplies, materials and services urgently needed to prevent loss of life and property in areas declared under a calamity state.

February

• CCMC rats gnaw corpse

The Cebu City Medical Center figured in yet another controversy when on February 2 the family of a man who died at the hospital claimed rats gnawed on the nose of the man's cadaver while it was at the hospital's holding area – a container van. The dead man's sister claimed to have seen rats scramble from the body when they went there to claim it. An investigation was launched, which led the hospital management to tap the services of a private company to control pest and vermin at the hospital.

• Dumanjug mayor says kill whales, dolphins

Lamenting that some whales, dolphins, and sharks compete with humans by consuming two tons of fish a day, Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia drew massive criticism when he suggested some of these creatures should be killed. He made the statement at no less than the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape Stakeholders' Summit in Cebu City. Ironically, the summit was organized to draw ideas to restore the beauty and bounty of Tañon Strait, the largest marine protected area in the Philippines. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said he should instead suggest actions that harmonize to create a balance between economic development and environmental protection.

• Mitsumi workers get diarrhea

At least 152 workers of the Da-nao-based Mitsumi corporation — 48 of whom had to be admitted to the hospital — suffered from what tests showed were characteristics of a bacteria similar to cholera on February 13. Health officials would later declare a cholera outbreak in the city after it found out that the government-owned water system serving two barangays there was contaminated with fecal coliform, one of the most common microbiological contaminants of natural waters.

• Rama wants motorcycle lanes at SRP

Saying "Death is waiting at SRP." Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama pushed for the establishment of a lane exclusive to motorcycles at the South Road Properties. The statement came after a 55-year-old Dutchman was run over by a cement mixer truck while driving his motorcycle at the SRP.

• Minor rapes sisters, cousin

A 17-year-old Yolanda survivor landed in police custody after the family that adopted him accused him of raping his two stepsisters aged six and se-ven, and their three-year-old cousin, in Lapu-Lapu City. The boy initially denied the allegations but the six-year-old stood firm that the boy had raped them repeatedly for more than a year, usually during afternoon siesta when he puts them to sleep.

• Vice Mayor's wife attacks husband's 'mistress'

It was a story fit for a soap opera and it was one that did not skip social media. Afternoon on February 27, the wife of Ronda Vice Mayor John Ungab landed in jail when she attacked the vice mayor's alleged paramour by hitting the latter's car with her own and then striking her with a baseball bat.

The incident led to charges in court with the vice mayor's wife scheduled to be arraigned in February 2016.

March

• Taxi driver "threatens" passengers

The P10 flagdown reduction in the fare in taxis caused many disagreements among drivers and passengers in Cebu but one incident led to a formal investigation after a couple accused a driver of threatening them with a knife when they asked him to honor the reduction. Joel Ramos of SD Taxi, faced the couple at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 where he denied the allegations and challenged the couple to show proof. He said it was the male passenger who got mad when they found out that the taxi was not yet calibrated.

• Balili estate ordered to repay

The Regional Trial Court has ordered the controversial Balili estate to return to the Province of Cebu the P37.81 million the latter paid for portions of the 24.7-hectare property that was later found to be underwater and a mangrove area. The province bought the property during the time of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

However, it turned out the estate no longer had enough money to pay the amount back so it was suggested that the estate offer its other properties. The court has yet to decide on the matter of compensation. A criminal case remains pending before the Sandiganbayan against Garcia over the alleged anomalous purchase of the Balili property.

• Toledo typhoid

An upland barangay in Toledo City drew public attention when at least 26 of its residents suffered from fever, 14 of whom had to be admitted to the hospital. Health officials eventually found out that a 40-year-old deep well in Barangay Subayon, the residents' main source of water, was contaminated with fecal coliform and E. coli.

It was also found out that the barangay did not have a sanitary toilet. Officials dismissed insinuations poultry farms there causes the sickness but said flies from the farms may have contributed to spreading the disease.

• Cebu graduate tops Bar exams

 A certified public accountant from Cebu who at first considered studying Law as her pastime ended up among the top examinees in the 2014 Bar Examinations. Michelle Liao, 31, who graduated cum laude from the University of Cebu in 2014, garnered an average score of 84.5 percent to claim the fifth spot.

April

• 4 kids rescued from foreigner

Authorities rescued four children believed to be victims of human trafficking in Bogo City. Canadian national Levis Caouette Talbot was also arrested along with two relatives of the minors.

• 80 families evacuated from dumpsite

At least 80 families living in the danger zone in Sitio Dumpsite, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, were forcibly evacuated by the city government upon the order of Mayor Michael Rama following his declaration of the area under a state of calamity.  Rama personally supervised the evacuation undertaken by the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

• Martinez faces graft

Cebu Provincial Board Member Celestino "Tining" Martinez III and former Bogo treasurer Rhett Minguez were charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the Fertilizer Fund Scam in 2004.

The Office of the Ombudsman found evidence against Martinez and Minguez in the anomalous release of P6 million to Sikap Yaman Foundation, a non-government organization based in Quezon City, to supply fertilizer for rice and corn farmers.

• MyGold loses over P5M  in jewelry to 4 robbers

Four armed men robbed MyGold pawnshop in downtown Cebu City on April 15, just as it was about to open. The robbers escaped with P5.5 million worth of assorted jewelry and P7,000 cash. One of the suspects, Mario Remitre, of Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur, has already been charged in court.

May

• Newborn tossed out window by mom

A newborn baby girl miraculously survived being thrown out the window and down a cliff in Maria Luisa Village, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

The baby was still wrapped in the placenta which snagged on a vine and broke her fall. The baby was later found by the security guard of the village.

• State of calamity declared due to El Niño

The Cebu City Council was forced to declare a state of calamity in 31 upland barangays because of the dry spell that affected the water supply in the mountains.

The Cebu Provincial Board also declared the entire province under a state of calamity due to the effects of prolonged dry spell affecting at least 40 percent of the crops.

The declaration allowed local government units to access their calamity funds to help affected residents.

• Airman drowns in swimming tilt

An Air Force sergeant died during the Olango Challenge open water swimming competition in May.

Eduardo Oriondo, 54, was competing in the 2-kilometer Competitive Male category when he was found submerged about 40 feet deep along the race course.

June

• Blocktimer berates traffic enforcer

The video of a radio blocktimer berating a traffic enforcer in Cebu City went viral on the Internet resulting in the loss of his radio program.

The management of the radio station where Roger Cimafranca bought airtime terminated his contract because of the controversy he created when he berated traffic enforcer Lyndon Ocampo who apprehended him for overloading and not wearing a helmet.

July

• Central Visayas leads in HIV-tainted blood

Central Visayas ranked second, next to the National Capital Region, with the most number of donated blood units with HIV virus. Based on the data of the Department of Health, the numbers rose to 40 percent from 2014 or 1,636 (19.8 percent) of the 8,268 counted blood units in 2015 compared to 438 (37.4 percent) of the 1,171 blood units last year.

• Rama versus CPA

The Cebu Port Authority filed a civil case against the Cebu City government for the latter's alleged meddling in the properties that are under CPA's jurisdiction, particularly the Compania Maritima. On the other hand, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama questioned the move of CPA and took this as a move declaring war against the city government.

• COA: City bought "P20T alcohol"

The Commission on Audit called the attention of the Cebu City government after discovering that the latter bought five bottles of rubbing alcohol for P21,222.90 or at P4,244.58 each. Mayor Michael Rama assured that he will order an investigation into the matter.

• Man climbs billboard

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella helped convince an 18-year-old man from jumping off a billboard along General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City. The man later told authorities he wanted to jump off from the billboard as he had not eaten for five days and wanted to go back home to Davao del Norte but had no money. 

• Citilink terminal closes

Personnel of Cebu City Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement sealed the entrance of the Citilink Terminal after the city government ordered its closure for allegedly operating without a permit. The court would later order it reopened.

• Another man climbs a billboard

A 40-year-old man caused traffic in the Cebu City downtown area when he climbed a billboard on top of a building. Authorities had to close part of Colon Street and Borromeo Street so negotiators could position themselves properly to convince Marcelino Candido not to jump off the billboard. He later climbed down.

• Fire in the airport

Fire broke out at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport due to alleged electrical overloading in the air handling unit of a facility between the domestic and international arrival areas. The damage of the fire was estimated at P1 million.

• Mary Ann delos Santos split between two camps

Both Mayor Michael Rama and former Cebu City representative Tomas Osmeña announced that Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos had a slot in their respective political parties. Rama was the first to announce that Delos Santos has a slot in Team Rama and was followed by Osmeña announcing that he has also saved a slot for her in his Bando Osmeña PundokKauswagan party. She would later choose BOPK.

August

• Sambag 1 fire

Over 155 families were left homeless after a fire hit Barangay Sambag 1, Cebu City, past 11 p.m. on August 3. Around 58 houses were destroyed while another house and a Christian school were damaged in the fire. Damage was estimated at P1 million.

• City told to reject SRP sale

With 10 votes from Cebu City councilors, all from the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan party, the City Council pushed for the motion for the executive department to decline the P8-billion payment from companies that bought 45.2 hectares of land at the South Road Properties. However, the payment would later be  made a few days later.

• SAF wife disappointed

The wife of the Cebuano Special Action Force commando who was killed in the Mamasapano Operation in January 2015 expressed disappointment after finding out that her husband's name was dropped from the list of awardees during the 114th service anniversary of the Philippine National Police. Doctor Christine Cempron, wife of Police Officer 2 Romeo Cempron, was already set to receive the Medal of Valor of her husband but was told at the last minute that her husband was not among the awardees. 

•Runner dies during race

Canadian national and marathoner Dean Borg, 52, died during the R399 Run at Cebu Business Park in August 9. He collapsed just two kilometers into the race and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The R399 Run was held in memory of a relay participant of an international triathlon event who also died during a race. Prior to the race Borg allegedly hit his head in the gutter during an accident, but still decided to join.

• Resto owner sues Rama

Camia Street Café and Restaurant owner Adrian Lee filed an administrative and criminal complaint against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama after the city government closed his establishment on July 2 for allegedly operating with an expired temporary business permit. Rama insisted that the city exercised "rule of law" in closing the establishment.

• Mayor sued over Yolanda aid

Daanbantayan mayor Augusto Corro as well as Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Heide Aplece were sued by former town councilor Renato Benatiro before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly removing the names of Yolanda survivors from the list of beneficiaries of the Emergency Shelter Assistance fund. Corro denied doing so, saying he is not yet done distributing the ESA funds and that he is ready to face the case.

• Masi downs 11 kids

At least 11 students of the Hipodromo Elementary School in Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City, were hospitalized when they complained of stomach pain, dizziness and vomiting allegedly after eating masi. The delicacy manufacturer was ordered closed by the city government days later for lack of the necessary permit and adequate sanitation while the children were later declared already in safe condition.

• Kid dies after eating biscuits

Two-year-old Jarl Jade Ta-lingting of Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, died while his four siblings and two neighbors were hospitalized after they ate biscuits their neighbor bought from an officemate. Gretchen Jugan, the mother of one of the kids, reportedly bought the biscuits from a female workmate who buys them from a factory and repacks them herself. Jugan was told to send samples of the biscuits to health authorities but she reportedly threw what was left of the food away immediately after the incident.

• Cops' meals low quality?

Some policemen deployed for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Cebu complained of being served "degrading" meals. Each policeman was allotted P250 for their daily food but they were allegedly provided low-quality food. The Police Regional Office-7, two days later, assured that the policemen are already having better meals and accommodation.

September

• Priest hits clerk in Dumanjug

Dumanjug parish priest Fr. Wiliam Ybañez allegedly hit the head and grabbed the hair of Bigmak Burger Junction sales clerk Teresita Sambrana at the vicinity of the church, allegedly angry after the latter and other people destroyed the padlock of the gate to enter the church compound where the outlet was located. Ybañez also reported Sambrana to the police for forcible entry. Both parties were later referred to the barangay for possible mediation.

• 68 'syndicate members' fall

A total of 68 foreigners from China and Taiwan were arrested in Cebu City for online fraud and blackmail. The suspects reportedly call their prospects pretending to be persons with complainants against a company. After which, another caller, who pretend to be a person in authority, offers their help to settle matters in exchange for money. The foreigners have been deported back to their country.

• 60 Japanese arrested for working sans permit

More than 60 Japanese nationals allegedly working illegally at Japan Intertrade Callcenter Corporation, a call center at the Cebu IT Park, were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation-7 for working without permit from the Department of Labor and Employment. Charges have been filed against the foreigners.

• Mandaue landslide kills child

Thirteen-year-old Vicente Cari-quitan Jr. was killed by the collapsing riprap of a nearby subdivision after a heavy rain in Barangay Casili, Mandaue City, on September 12. Subdivision developer AIDFAZ Development Corporation shouldered all the expenses, including the hospital bills of Vicente's brother, Vladimir, 19, who was injured during the incident.

October

• Dengue cases rise

The Department of Health-7 has called on the public to boost their defenses against dengue after the agency recorded a 95 percent increase in the number of cases in 2015. Data the agency released showed a total of 10,956 people in Central Visayas were afflicted with dengue from January 1 to November 21. Of this number, 71 died.

• City Hall workers slam council over bonus

Angry over the City Council's non-passage of the P2.8-billion Supplemental Budget-1, over a thousand Cebu City employees staged a protest in front of the City Hall building to demand the passage of the budget, which included funds for their Productivity Enhancement Incentive bonus. 

At least 29 of the protesters, among them barangay workers, were later sued for violation of Section 16 of the Local Government Code, Section 4 of the CSC Resolution No. 021316; and Section 4 Paragraph A (1),(2), (3), and (5) of Republic Act 6713 or the code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Official and Employees.

• Man washed away in Butuanon River

Faustino "Tinoy" Tulod, 73, of Sitio Salvacion, Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City was carried away by the raging waters of Butuanon River after the improvised raft he was using to cross the river overturned when he tried to recover a pail that fell into the water. His body was found downstream two days later.

• 9 BOPK dads sued over budget delay

Three "concerned citizens" filed administrative charges against nine members of the Cebu City Council allied with Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan for their refusal to act on the P2.8-billion Supplemental Budget-1.

Councilors Margarita "Margot" Osmeña, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Nestor Archival, Roberto Cabarrubias, Alvin Dizon, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Mary Ann Delos Santos, and Nida Cabrera all voted to defer discussion of the supplemental budget until the legal issues on the source of funds are resolved with finality. A certain Romulo Torres filed an injunction against SB-1 to stop the city government from using the proceeds of the sale of the South Road Properties, identified as SB-1 fund source, until the legal issues surrounding it are resolved.

The court later dismissed Torres' complaints, but the BOPK-dominated council still refused to tackle SB-1, arguing that the decision was still subject to a motion for reconsideration and the matter, therefore, was still not yet resolved with finality.

• Smaze over Cebu

Smaze, a mixture of smoke and haze, was observed by the state weather bureau blanketing the skies in most parts of Central Visayas, especially Cebu City.

Engineer Oscar Tabada, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Visayas director, said the light to moderate smaze hovering over the region was due to monsoon winds blowing southwest intensified by typhoon Lando.

The smaze, coming from forest fires in Indonesia, dissipated days later.

• Radaza, Tining suspended

The Sandiganbayan fifth division ordered a 90-day preventive suspension of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and Cebu Provincial Board Member Celestino "Tining" Martinez III for their alleged involvement in the misuse of P15 million in pork barrel funds of former Cebu representative Clavel Martinez in 2002.

The Sandiganbayan, through a resolution penned by Chairman Roland Jurado promulgated on October 21 granted the motion of the prosecution seeking the suspension of Radaza, Martinez, and two others for alleged malversation of public funds, punishable under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, and another two administrative offenses for violation of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

• Lawyer shoots self

Lawyer Amiel Joaquin Manubag, 34, shot himself dead after a three-hour standoff with Bogo City policemen who went to arrest him.  The policemen were trying to serve him a warrant of arrest in his house inside a subdivision in Barangay Taytayan, Bogo City, for charges of grave threats and alarm and scandal. He said he would not be taken alive. A shot then sounded from inside his room, prompting police to rush in to find him already dead.

November

• Cop killed in Catmon shootout

Police Officer 2 Dionesio Jurbina, 54, of Catmon Police Station, was killed along with two men who were part of a group of armed men he and colleagues engaged in a shootout in Sitio Buyo, Barangay Binongkalan, Catmon town. Senior Police Officer 2 Rex Menchavez, 54; and Police Officer 2 Aaron Benjamin Arizo, 35, were also hurt in the encounter.

Jurbina and his companions were responding to information from a concerned citizen about a group of armed men in Sitio Buyo. The men turned out to be members of the so-called Pistalis Organization, allegedly a breakaway group of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association.

• Butane blast injures 8

Eight employees of a butane store in Greyhounds Subdivision, Barangay Kinasang-an, Cebu City, landed in the hospital after the supposedly empty butane canisters they were cleaning exploded. The police suspected that they were illegally refilling them with liquefied petroleum gas.

The Department of Energy-7 later recommended the filing of a complaint against the store owner, who allegedly admitted selling butane canisters filled with LPG without a permit. The accident, coupled with other similar incidents, prompted Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to seek a ban on butane refill canisters.

• Baby abducted in CSBT

A mother sought the help of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 after another woman, who befriended her while she was selling candies at the Cebu South Bus Terminal, allegedly took her baby.

Due to some inconsistencies in her actions and statements, she was instead suspected of possibly selling her baby in exchange for cash, until CIDG-7 investigators, who persevered in pursuing their lead, managed to locate the woman who took the baby.

The woman allegedly wanted to present the baby to her live-in partner as theirs and then sell it to have money for the treatment of her own baby, who was sickly. The mother later filed a kidnapping case against the woman.

• Mall opening causes heavy traffic

The opening of SM Seaside City, the fourth biggest mall in the country, at the South Road Properties in Cebu City, became a nightmare for motorists after the resulting traffic buildup caused gridlock in nearby intersections.

The "abnormal traffic flow" was attributed to the huge number of people flocking to the new mall.

December

• Gwen cleared of CICC admin raps

The Office of the Ombudsman cleared former Cebu governor and current third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia of administrative liability over the "anomalous" bidding in the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center. The anti-graft office absolved her by virtue of the Aguinaldo Doctrine after she was re-elected as governor in 2007 and in 2010.

• 340 homeless in Punta fire

A fire blamed on electrical misuse left 340 people homeless in Doña Maria Village Extension in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City after it destroyed 29 houses and damaged six others.

Based on reports, the owner of the house where the fire started allegedly noticed a circuit breaker problem in his house but just dismissed it. Fire investigators, though, have yet to come up with a final finding on the incident.

• 10 men "attack" bets

Around 10 men allegedly armed with long firearms and grenades reportedly riddled the vehicle of Dumanjug town vice mayoralty candidate Rene Asentista in an attack that political enemies of DumanjugVice Mayor Efren "Gungun" Gica alleged was staged. Gica is running for town mayor with Asentista as runningmate.

Three men, who were allegedly part of the "attackers," were later arrested while two other suspects in the incident died in a shootout with policemen less than a week after. (FREEMAN)