NBI-CEVRO chief urges victims of KAPA in Cebu to visit office, file complaints
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-CEVRO) is asking the victims of the Kapa Community Ministry International (Kapa) investment scam to visit their office and file their complaints. In a phone interview with CDN Digital this afternoon, July 25, 2020, Lawyer Tomas Enrile, director of NBI-CEVRO, said that […] The post NBI-CEVRO chief urges victims of KAPA in Cebu to visit office, file complaints appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Church visits are allowed only until 10 p.m. – Police chief
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Church visits on Maundy Thursday will only be allowed until 10 p.m. the chief of the Cebu City police announced on Thursday, March 28. Police Colonel Ireneo B. Dalogdog, City Director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said that the public is not allowed inside religious places past 10:00 p.m......»»
PDEA-7: No marijuana-flavored vapes in Central Visayas
CEBU CITY, Philippines – No marijuana-flavored vapes have been monitored so far in Central Visayas, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the region, said. This was according to Intelligence Agent IlI Jonar V. Cuayzon, chief of the Intelligence and Investigation Section of PDEA Regional Office 7. Cuayzon, however, said that they are not discounting the.....»»
OBO lifts suspension order for works on commercial building in Cebu City
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Office of the Building Official (OBO) has already lifted the suspension order it issued against the contractor of the 37-story residential-commercial building, which faced complaints from residents of Barangay Hipodromo for violation of safety standards. The suspension was lifted approximately a week after OBO chief Architect Catalan visited […] The post OBO lifts suspension order for works on commercial building in Cebu City appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
CEB in hot water due to bad raps
Budget airline Cebu Pacific is facing a call for the suspension of its Congressional franchise after a pile-up of complaints from irate passengers. Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairperson of the House committee on constitutional amendments, wanted the legislative body to take the move as a penalty for inconveniencing passengers, including constituents from Cagayan de Oro City and other parts of Mindanao. Among the complaints against the airline was the alleged overbooking of flights, offloading passengers and booking glitches. “A congressional franchise is a privilege that should not be used and enjoyed at the expense of the public. Congress should temporarily withdraw such privilege from Cebu Pacific until such time that it can provide satisfactory service to the riding public,” Rodriguez, a lawyer, said. Airline sorry Cebu Pacific apologized for the flight delays and cancellations while vowing to resolve the problem. Its president and chief commercial officer, Xander Lao did the same at the Senate hearing, pointing to the delays on the global aviation industry’s engine and supply chain issues, the effects of which the airline began to experience in March. According to Lao, the airline’s on-time performance declined to 58 percent for the month of May. The post CEB in hot water due to bad raps appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess
Growing complaints from various passengers against budget carrier, Cebu Pacific’s overbooking, offloading, and booking glitches have reached the Senate inquiry on Wednesday. This came after Senate committee chairperson, Senator Nancy Binay, filed Senate Resolution No. 575 pushing for an investigation on the customers’ complaints against Cebu Pacific due to recent flight cancellations. During the hearing, Binay said her office was able to compile at least 3,000 complaints from the passengers, which have been aired through social media platforms. “We have since seen it fit to invite our other airlines to this hearing because these problems, it seemed, have only grown in number. Our passengers face inconveniences on multiple fronts on account of flight delays, cancelations, offloading, and overbooking,” Binay stressed. Overseas worker, James Bartolome, said he has yet to receive his refund from Cebu Pacific after his flight going to Qatar was canceled. After knowing that his original flight was canceled, Bartolome opted to book another airline as the budget carrier won’t be able to give him an earlier flight. Senator JV Ejercito said the airport and airline operations will provide the “first and last impressions” to the tourists and potential investors entering the country. “We need to systematize this for our tourism and business climate,” he said, sharing that he was not even spared from experiencing flight delays. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that Cebu Pacific and other similar airline companies should acknowledge the impacts of flight cancellations and other airline mess. “Incidents like these could discourage tourists so this hearing should serve as a platform to air the grievances of the frustrated and helpless passengers,” Go said, citing that these may affect the country’s tourism industry and the economy. “Remember that we are still reviving from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. Go said the airlines must immediately act and rectify these issues by imposing proper mechanisms for compensating affected passengers—which includes food provisions during flight cancellation and alternative flight schedules. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers also complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, explained that there is a part of the flow where if a passenger clicks proceed, it commits the changes even before the passenger pays. “We recognize that and we are taking that feedback as well,” Iyog said. The Cebu Pacific, she added, is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. “Depending on when it's ready, we're looking at possibly, end of July that we will be able to implement this change in the user experience,” she said. Senator Risa Hontiveros lamented that in several instances when passengers’ original flights were canceled, Cebu Pacific offered flight rebooking and passengers were immediately made to pay before they could confirm their purchase of travel tickets. Citing a passenger’s experience, the airline’s website technical issue made them pay a bill of P16,000-worth of add-ons after availing of Cebu Pacific’s free rebooking option, following the cancellation of flights. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” “We don’t want to cancel flights for our passengers. It’s bad business and we don’t want to disrupt our passengers—that’s why we give options,” Iyog noted. Tougher passengers’ rights Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe slammed the budget carrier for lacking customer service agents directly responding to these complaints. Poe called on for a tougher policy on air passengers' rights to address the cancellations and delays in flights by local airlines besetting travelers. "This pressing public service issue calls for urgent effective solutions as it involves not only the air passengers' rights but also the overall impact on the country's tourism and economy,” she added. While overbooking is a globally accepted practice, Poe said "systematic delays and cancellations are not." Also, Hontiveros pressed that the government agencies should step in to prevent more passengers from being disrupted in their travels due to canceled, rescheduled, and delayed flights in Cebu Pacific and other airline companies. “These kinds of inconveniences disrupt the travel experiences also of tourists, and as the chair said, could negatively affect the tourism sector,” she added. Aside from the reported overbooking, offloading, booking, and flight cancellations, Senator Raffy Tulfo said that adding extra flights daily amid lacking proper airplane maintenance can be called “abuses of the airline companies.” He lamented that it could pose danger and compromise the safety of all airline passengers, “There were safety issues surrounding the uploading, overbooking, and flight cancellations of airlines. If these airlines don’t care about fulfilling their obligations to provide air transport for their passengers, I will not be surprised that they are cutting corners when it comes to safety as well,” Tulfo pressed on. Tulfo said extra flights can also cause fatigue in pilots and flight attendants. For his part, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa wants the Civil Aeronautics Board to become proactive in resolving the massive airline mess in the country. Dela Rosa asked CAB if it is amenable to institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in order to protect the public from erring airline companies. "What is your position? Do you agree with the proposal to create a law that will institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights?" asked Dela Rosa. In response, CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, said they have been very supportive of the proposal. “But it seems it is not among the priorities of Congress,” he said. Dela Rosa said he is mulling to proposed the bill in the Senate “not to discourage the airline industry but to protect the public interest. The post Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go: Food, hotel stay, reimbursement for inconvenienced flyers
Senator Christopher “Bong" Go on Wednesday called on airlines to provide passengers affected by canceled or delayed flights with food and water, alternative flights, accommodation in nearby hotels, and prompt reimbursement of expenses they incurred from disrupted trips. The senator made the call during the Senate inquiry on passenger complaints against Cebu Pacific, including the airline's overbooking, offloading, and online booking glitches. Senator Nancy Binay chaired the hearing of her Committee on Tourism. Earlier, she filed Senate Resolution 575 that called for the investigation after her office compiled at least 3,000 complaints from passengers from social media platforms. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Go told the Committee that even former president Rodrigo Duterte experienced a flight scheduled at five o'clock but changed to 9:30 last Saturday. The senator also cited his own experience that caused him to celebrate his birthday on an airplane at midnight of 14 June. "Last Saturday, I have an 11:25 p.m. flight. I received the boarding time on my cellphone at 10:40 p.m. It means you have to get ready. Then all of a sudden, when you are in the door, you will be told that the airplane has not yet arrived?" he said in another instance of delayed flight. "Why is that? What the online advisory said was different, that the plane was already there when the truth was that it was not there. Passengers should be given proper information to have a comfortable travel." Go added, "The situation is also difficult for our OFWs who are working tirelessly abroad to support their families. Delayed or canceled flights may jeopardize their employment and livelihood." He also lamented the practice of selling more airline tickets than available seats, which has led to situations where passengers with confirmed reservations have been denied boarding, disrupting their plans and causing immense inconvenience. "The airline should compensate affected passengers for their inconvenience," Go said. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions, yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, told the committee that the airline is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” The post Bong Go: Food, hotel stay, reimbursement for inconvenienced flyers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ombudsman dismisses graft charges vs Labella, Dacua over uncollected garbage issue in Inayawan
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City dismissed the complaints filed by Inayawan village chief Kirk Bryan Repollo against former Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella and former Department of Public Services (DPS) head, Lawyer John Jigo Dacua last January 7, 2021, for uncollected garbage issue in his barangay. In a […] The post Ombudsman dismisses graft charges vs Labella, Dacua over uncollected garbage issue in Inayawan appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Dalogdog to troublemakers: Alarm and scandal charges will be filed even if you agree to settle
CEBU CITY, Philippines –Law enforcers in Cebu City are not taking street brawls lightly. Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said they will proceed with the filing of alarm and scandal complaints against individuals involved in street brawls even if both parties have agreed to settle. “Tanang madakpan, ato gyud […] The post Dalogdog to troublemakers: Alarm and scandal charges will be filed even if you agree to settle appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Retired cop, 7 others arrested for tigbakay in Brgy Calamba
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Eight men, including a retired cop, landed in jail for betting in an illegal tigbakay in Barangay Calamba, Cebu City. They were arrested past 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, following complaints from resident in the area on the noise that the tigbakay was causing. Police Lieutenant Colonel Randy Caballes, chief […] The post Retired cop, 7 others arrested for tigbakay in Brgy Calamba appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Charges filed against 10 quarantine violators in Punta
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Charges were filed today, Friday, August 21, 2020 against 10 men who were arrested in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City this week for violating quarantine protocol ordinance. Police Captain Jonathan Dela Cerna, Labangon Police Station chief, said, in a phone interview, that they already filed the complaints against the 10 men […] The post Charges filed against 10 quarantine violators in Punta appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
MCPO chief: First day of GCQ generally peaceful, more traffic
CEBU CITY, Philippines — On the first day of the general community quarantine (GCQ) for Mandaue City has turned out to be generally peaceful with fewer complaints, but with a bit more traffic. Police Colonel Jonathan Abella Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) chief, said that the first day of GCQ went by smoothly in terms […] The post MCPO chief: First day of GCQ generally peaceful, more traffic appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
New DCPO chief pledges technology-driven approach
THE new director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) underscored the utilization of technology to streamline their operations......»»
Negros Occidental health office urges masking amid pertussis threat
The Negros Occidental provincial health office is campaigning for the use of face masks amid the threat of pertussis or ”whooping cough.”.....»»
Victims of Baltimore bridge collapse include those from Mexico, Guatemala
Maryland [US], March 27 (ANI): Among those reported missing following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in the US are Mexican nationals, CNN reported, citing Rafael Laveaga, Chief of the Consular Section of Mexico's Embassy in Washington. Laveaga refrained from specifying the exact number of missing Mexican nationals when he addressed reporters near the scene on Tuesday. A reporter asked Laveaga: ".....»»
Danao City ‘gun maker’ nabbed in raid
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 39-year-old man, who was accused of the illegal manufacture of guns, was arrested in a raid in his residence in Sitio Sapangdako, Barangay Matija, Danao City in northern Cebu, Tuesday dawn, March 26. In a report, the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) said that the raid was based on a.....»»
Holy Week 2024: A peek into 7 Metro Cebu churches for Visita Iglesia
The Lenten Season is also about reflection and prayer about the passion of Christ. There are days to fast and during the Holy Week on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the Catholic faithful usually practice the Visita Iglesia or the tradition to visit 7 or 14 churches, where they pray and reflect and do.....»»
New DCPO chief to focus on personnel morale, asset optimization
THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) bid farewell to PCol. Alberto Lupaz and welcomed its new City Director, PCol. Richard Bad-ang, in a turn-over ceremony at the Camp Captain Domingo E. Leonor on March 22......»»
LCPO gets an acting city director
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) has a new acting city director following the promotion and transfer of Police Colonel Elmer Lim to another region. This was confirmed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Christian Torres, spokesperson for the LCPO. Torres stated that Police Colonel Noel Flores, the current Deputy Regional Director for.....»»
Missing man found dead in Barangay Bonbon
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 50-year-old man who had been missing for two weeks was found dead in Sitio Golivas, Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City. The victim was identified as Adriano Fuentes Durano, a resident of Kiniasan, Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City. Police Major Philip John Libres, chief of Malubog Police Community Precinct, stated that on Tuesday.....»»
LTO-7 on high alert for Holy Week
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) is on high alert starting March 24 to 31, for the Holy Week. The LTO-7 announced their “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa and Summer Vacation 2024” in a press release last Friday. Director Glen Galario has instructed all LTO-7 district and extension offices.....»»