Here’s what you need to know this morning of Tuesday, January 12, 2016:
Taxi driver accused of demanding P2,000 from passenger
A viral post over Facebook led to the suspension of a taxi driver, who allegedly demanded P2,000 from a passenger whose child vomited inside his cab.
Bebanio Dapal Jr., a driver for 3 years for Catz Taxi, was suspended by his employer after the post of his passenger got viral.
“Niingon ra ko nga naa ra bay bayranan nga P2,000 kung mahugawan. Wala ko mangayo, nisulti ra ko (I said there’s a P2,000 payment if the taxi got dirty. I didn’t ask; I only mentioned it.)”
Bebanio Dapal Jr., according to Cebu Daily News.
Aside from the suspension from his employer, Dapal Jr., will face a probe from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. The LTFRB also noted there’s no law that allows PUV drivers to charge fines or penalties from passengers.
Read:
- Cebu Daily News: Cabbie suspended pending inquiry

VIRAL COMPLAINT. Photos on the incident as posted on Facebook. (From Cebu Flash Report FB page)
5,000 police officers to secure Sinulog, IEC
The Police Regional Office 7 will deploy 5,000 police officers to secure the Sinulog and the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.
PRO 7 said 3,000 to 4,000 will secure the Sinulog, while they will get an additional 1,000 from other police units to help secure the week-long IEC.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, the deputy director for operations in PRO 7, said the augmentation personnel will start arriving on Thursday.
Read:
- Sun.Star Cebu: 5T cops out on Sinulog, IEC
- The Freeman: 4T cops to secure Sunday’s Sinulog
3 new police chiefs named in Cebu
The Philippine National Police barely beat the deadline on the transfer of police personnel before the election period. Senior Supt. Marciano Batiancela, the local executive’s choice as the Cebu City Police Office chief, was relieved in favor of Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos of the office of PNP Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr.; Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, Supt. Jilian Entoma of the Mandaue City Police Office, and Regional Public Safety Batallion Commander Senior Supt. Cliffored Gairanod were also transferred.
Supt. Marcel Dayag replaces Gillamac, who was told to report to PRO 7., while Senior Supt. Jonatahan Agdamag Cabal, of the office of the PNP Chief, takes over in Mandaue.
Suspended Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama is unhappy with the changes and criticized the move.
“This is a manifestation of martial law. At least with martial law, there was a proclamation. I can’t understand the political mechanism they go through.”
Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama
Read:
- Sun.Star Cebu: 3 new police chiefs in Cebu
- The Freeman: Amid Sinulog, IEC preparations: CCPO director, 2 others removed ahead of polls
- Cebu Daily News: Labella questions Batiancela’s relief
Sinulog 2016 stories
- Sun.Star Cebu: Mandaue traffic head urges devotees to use bicycles, instead of cars, during traslacion
- Sun.Star Cebu: Coast Guard requires organizers of fluvial procession to secure permit
- Sun.Star Cebu: Rama invites Binay for Sinulog celebration
- The Freeman: Cop, ex-junkie recall influence of Senior Sto. Nino in life-changing events
- The Freeman: First-time Sinulog witness Bishop Oscar Florencio amazed by Cebuano’s faith

CEBU HEADLINES. The front pages of Cebu’s newspapers today, January 12, 2016.
Other Cebu News Headlines
» Sun.Star Cebu: Cops nab 11 for drugs as checkpoints start for election period
» Sun.Star Cebu: NBI 7 rescues 17-year-old Cebuana in Laguna bar
» Sun.Star Cebu: UP Cebu obtains TRO vs. re-blocking 3 days after Cebu City completes re-blocking of fire-damaged property
» Cebu Daily News: Ex-prosecutor’s GF released from jail, seeks help from Witness Protection Program
» Cebu Daily News: Tudela criticizes DPWH for delay in P40-million road project
Cebu Business News
» Sun.Star Cebu: Despite negative publicity, Montero dealer expects 15 percent growth this year
» Sun.Star Cebu: Pag-ibig plans to keep 6.5 interest under three-year price scheme
» The Freeman: Community begins to feel economic impact of newly-opened malls
» The Freeman: Young entrepreneur invests P4 million in new Mexican-Korean restaurant
» Cebu Daily News: Mitsubishi shows off new Montero sport
» Cebu Daily News: PhilExport Cebu tells exporters to be cautious, develop better trade relations with international buyers
Cebu Sports News
» Sun.Star Cebu: Olympic hopeful Mary Joy Tabal gets a break after IAAF lowers women’s marathon qualifying time from 2:42 to 2:45
» The Freeman: Cebuano Enriquez joins top bets in quarterfinal round of Peugeot Philippine Open Cebu leg