COA: Cebu City ‘misused’ P45 million in development funds

The Commission on Audit (COA) said the Cebu City Government spent P45 million in development funds on “non-development projects,” contrary to guidelines.

A Nigerian medical student was arrested for allegedly trying to force a police officer to perform oral sex inside the comfort room of a shopping mall.

Following the 10-hour blackout in the Visayas grid on Feb. 19 and the rotating brownouts in Metro Cebu that followed, power sector representatives assured of enough power supply for Cebu and other provinces in the Visayas in summer but the thin reserves does not guarantee zero blackouts.

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Here are the top stories for today, Feb. 24, 2015:

TOP STORIES. The front pages of Sun.Star Cebu and Cebu Daily News today.

COA: Cebu City ‘misused’ P45 million

Auditors said the Cebu City Government spent P45 million from its Local Development Fund (LDF) for “non-development projects,” contrary to guidelines of the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The LDF, which is 20 percent of the City’s annual Internal Revenue Allotment share, funds projects under the Annual Investment Plan.

The audit observation obtained by Sun.Star Cebu identified the “non-development” projects funded by the LDF as:

renovation of multi-purpose buildings in Barangays Pulangbato (P5 million) and Sapangdaku (P3 million)
construction of two-storey City Hall network office building (P16 million)
completion of the Center for Local Governance building in Barangay Taptap (P13.5 million)
improvement of multi-purpose hall in Barangay Sudlon I (P2.86 million)
construction of Barangay Binaliw’s community building and barangay hall (P5 million)

“Because of the deviation, the objective of improving the socio-economic condition of the local constituents was hindered or not attained at all, thus defeating the objectives of the establishment of the fund.” — State Auditor IV and Audit Team Leader Ma. Daisy Bercede

Sun.Star Cebu: COA: Cebu City ‘misused’ P45M

Nigerian national accused of molesting policeman inside mall comfort room

Ghukmelie Ezeal, 30, who temporarily stays in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City is now detained and is at risk of being deported after allegedly grabbing the head of a police officer, 52, and pushing his face to his genitals in the comfort room of a shopping mall in uptown Cebu City Sunday night.

He was charged yesterday with direct assault, grave oral defamation and unjust vexation before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office. The police will send a copy of the case to Interpol and the Bureau of Immigration 7.

During the incident that happened on his day off, the policeman told Ezeal that he was a police officer.

“Giingnan man hinuon ko niya nga (He told me), ‘You’re an idiot. Monkey. Kiss my ass…’ Bastos gyud kaayo iyang gibuhat. Unsa na lang gyud diay iyang pagan-aw nato? (What he did was rude. What does he think of us)?” — police officer

Sun.Star Cebu: Student ‘molests’ police officer in restroom
The Freeman: Nigerian, cop in CR fracas

Thin power reserves for Cebu, CV

The Department of Energy 7 Regional Director Antonio Labios said there is ample power supply for Visayas in summer when an upsurge in the demand for power is expected.

However, the region only has thin power reserves. In fact, the Visays grid is currently in “yellow” alert status, a condition when the power generation reserve is in a thin level. This means that there is no assurance of zero blackouts in summer.

“If there will be no major power plant nga maguba, normal ang operation. We have sufficient supply. Naa pod ta’y reserved pero gamay-gamay.” — Department of Energy 7 Regional Director Antonio Labios