It was noted that before the incident, Mr. Pempengco pushed the suspect. This incident was reported by Capili to the barangay. However, Capili is known to their village as “Siga” so that even if he already reported what Pempengco did to him, he still planned to kill Pempengco.

But before the Christmas 2009, the Supreme Court reversed its ruling and finally approved the citihood of Baybay, Leyte including the other 15 former towns such as:

1. Bogo, Cebu
2. Carcar, Cebu
3. Naga in Cebu
4. Catbalogan, Samar
5. Borongan, Eastern Samar
6. Tandag, Surigao del Sur
7. Tayabas, Quezon
8. Lamitan, Basilan
9. Tabuk, Kalinga
10. Bayugan, Agusan del Sur
11. Batac, Ilocos Norte
12. Mati, Davao Oriental
13. Guihulngan, Negros Oriental
14. Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte
15. El Salvador, Misamis Oriental

More News Stories

SC cityhood ruling criticized, praised

All 16 municipalities had been seeking cityhood even before the passage of Republic Act No. 9009 in June 2001, according to the high court. The law amended the Local Government Code to raise the income requirement for towns to become cities from P20 million to P100 million.

“Respondent municipalities and the 33 other cities, which had already been elevated to city status, were all found to be qualified under the old Section 450 of the Local Government Code of 1991 during the 11th Congress,” the Supreme Court said.

Read more –> SC cityhood ruling criticized, praised

LCP raps SC decision on 16 cityhood laws

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) will file a motion for reconsideration with regards to the re-opening of the decision against the 16 cityhood laws which was already issued an entry of judgment last May 21, 2009.

LCP President Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos said that he cannot see any reason why the Supreme Court had to change the decision, which is already final. “To my mind, as a lawyer, an entry of judgment is like a death certificate already. The case is already nailed shut.

Read more –> LCP raps SC decision on 16 cityhood laws

Court relents, allows 16 towns to become cities

Based on congressional deliberations, it was clear that Congress intended the 16 municipalities to be exempted from the minimum income requirement, the Court said.

The justices also noted that the 16 municipalities had pending cityhood bills before the minimum requirement was raised to P100 million from P20 million.

Read more –> Court relents, allows 16 towns to become cities

The Superferry 9 of the WG&A left General Santos port at 8:45am Saturday, September 5, 2009 and bound for Iloilo. On board were 847 passengers and 117 crew members or a total of 964 people. Among these people were 28 crews of Star Cinema who came from a movie shoot in General Santos.

It began listing on early Sunday while sailing off the southern Zamboanga peninsula. At around 2:00am Sunday, according to the ship’s captain Jose Yap, the passengers were told to abandon ship when the ship tilted to right. Few hours later, the ferry started to sink.

Authorities called distress calls and rushed rescue vessels to the area. Passengers and crews were evacuated from tilting ferry and according to the  Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, about 800 people were evacuated before the ferry slid underwater. It was reported that about 80 people were still unaccounted for while atleast 3 people dead.

The cause of the listing of the Superferry 9 is still unknown and is still under investigation. Authorities are currently focusing on the search and rescue operation.