The Bogo Times

Source: Cebu Daily News At least eight buses of the Metro Cebu Autobus Corporation were suspended for one month by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7 starting Tuesday. LFTRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon announced the suspension after a meeting with company officials yesterday. Last Monday an Autobus unit collided with an oncoming Toyota Altis sedan in the national highway in Bogo City in north Cebu. Three bus passengers were killed and 37 were injured, including both drivers. The suspended buses are listed in the same franchise number of the bus that figured in the accident. Cuizon said Autobus units covered by other franchises can still operate. Autobus operates a fleet of more than 30 buses. “We just want to uphold public safety. We want to be sure that the riding public is safe, especially now that it is passenger season because of Christmas,” Cuizon said. Based on police investigation the bus “was just a second party ...

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has rejected the request of Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th district) to place Bogo City in northern Cebu under Comelec control in the 2013 elections to prevent a repeat of the stand-off in Pulambato in 2010. Comelec Chairperson Sixto Brillantes said the Comelec, as a collegial body, decided that placing Bogo City under Comelec control is unnecessary and has no basis. Brillantes said the Comelec decision is final. Earlier, Salimbangon said placing Bogo City under Comelec control will prevent violence in the elections, especially that there are armed men in the area who are freely roaming around. Salimbangon said he wants clean and honest elections and placing Bogo City under Comelec control will prevent criminals from making trouble during the campaign period and on election day. Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. said he is happy to learn about the Comelec order, saying the congressman’s suggestion is selective...

Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr. said Cebu’s 4th district would only be placed under Comelec control if there is actual violence. Sixto Brillantes Jr. Brillantes said the situation should be grave enough to warrant the commission’s control. ”Kung marami na hong namamatay dyan, nag-bombahan na, nag-iitsahan na ng granada, nagsusuguran na, maraming loose firearms, nagbabarilan na dyan. Wala nang peace and order. That is the time we place it under Comelec control. Is that the situation?” Brillantes said in an interview in Atty. Frank Malilong’s TV 5 program “Frankahay Ta.” ... Mayor Junie Martinez said they only suggested that the entire district be placed under Comelec control with conditions after Salimbangon suggested that Bogo be placed under the commission’s control. ”Salimbangon wants only Bogo declared, so I said, ‘Why not the entire district?” Junie said. Read more: balita.ph Comelec Provincial Supervisor Lionel Marco Castilla...

THREE towns and one city in Cebu province towns are being closely monitored by government security agencies to prevent possible political violence. Although not yet considered election hotspots, the Joint Security and Peace Coordinating Conference (JPSCC) is taking a close watch especially in the fourth district in northern Cebu. ... The 4th district is hotly contested between the Martinez and Salimbangon political clans. Danao City is being hotly contested by the divided Durano clan. ... In 2013, Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez, Jr. will again be challenged by Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung. Cebu 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon will again be challenged by Celestino “Tining” Martinez IV. ... read more on Cebu Daily News Note: Content in this post is from Cebu Daily News. 

from Cebu Daily News - October 24, 2012 By Joy Cherry Quito , Correspondent "THE Bogo city government is asking the Cebu Ports Authority to help fund the expansion of the Polambato Roll-on and Roll-off Port as part of efforts to spur economic growth. The city government trying to carve out a ‘business district’ out of vast sugarcane fields in barangay Cayang. This will be completed in December or early January next year, said Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez, Jr, during the 888 News Forum held offsite in the northern city yesterday. The site will also host Bogo’s new City Hall and will have an entertainment area." visit Cebu Daily News for full story.