Relocation building deal

The Cebu City government is one step closer to availing of a P78 million loan from the National Housing Authority (NHA) to construct two medium-rise buildings which will serve as alternative housing for residents living near Mahiga creek.

The Cebu City Council authorized Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to enter and sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the NHA, represented by its general manager Chito Cruz, to avail of the NHA’s Poverty Alleviation Fund 3.

The two medium-rise buildings will be constructed at what used to be the Lorega cemetery, a 9,332-square meter lot which can accommodate 174 families.

The city must avail of the loan before the year ends so the P78 million will not revert to the national government.

Fraternity members ran naked again yesterday for the annual Oblation run of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Cebu. The strip-and-run event is usually to express political views, but this time 34 member of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) had Yolanda victims for their cause.

With only their faces covered, the men who participated in the “ritual dance of the brave” took on the theme of Bangon Pilipinas and held messages such as “Bangon Leyte and Tacloban.”

Aside from expressing sympathy for survivors of the calamity, the group highlighted the rights of the gay community.

“This year’s run represents the collective issues and happenings in our country today,” said APO UP Cebu Grand Lady Chancellor Lou Anna Abada.

It’s going to be a merry Christmas for boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud.

The perjury case filed against him was recently dismissed by a Mandaue City judge due to an infraction committed by the prosecution.

Judge Wilfredo Dagatan of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 3 said the prosecution wasn’t sure about whom Salud made the alleged untruthful statement when he registered as a voter of Cordova town.

“Let it be noted that the accused is charged for perjury for not telling the truth. Likewise, the court has noted that the prosecution is not also telling the truth,” Dagatan said in his resolution dated Dec. 5, 2013.

In the original complaint, the judge said Salud was accused for “feloniously swearing before election officer Arvin Maghanoy.”

However, the prosecution, in its amended complaint, wanted to change the name of the election officer to “Jovito Beltran.”

Aside from the section head, three other employees of the South Road Properties (SRP) Management Office are linked to the P200,000 reservation fee paid by the carnival owner to the office.

SRP office head Roberto “Bu” Varquez, however, clarified that he immediately asked the worker to return the amount the moment he learned that they received P200,000 as reservation fee for the Kasadya sa SRP. The money was returned last year yet.

Varquez, who appeared at the Cebu City Council’s executive session, said that the money passed through three employees from the City Market’s Office and the SRP office before Varquez learned about it.