CEBU CITY (PNA) — Cebu’s dancing inmates gained international fame when a video clip of their mass dancing of the late Michael Jackson’s “Thriller" was posted on YouTube. The video clip posted by former Cebu Capitol security consultant Byron Garcia has been viewed more than 43.8 million times. Many other video clips of their mass dancing were posted on YouTube and have millions of hits. But reports that inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) are being forced to dance and mauled if they refused caught the attention of the Commission of Human Rights (CHR). Leo Villarino of CHR 7 said they may conduct an investigation into the matter after they complete the one they are conducting now on the recent death of an inmate due to mauling. He said the CHR can’t integrate the probe on the dancing inmate with the one on the death of Angelito Cabalquinto because they may lose focus. He said their focus now is on Benjie Ondit, the inmate who sustained injuries during a prison brawl. In a radio program over DYSS, where Villarino was one of the guests, he said there’s a need for another investigation specially that Ondit has not mentioned the issue on dancing inside the jail. Fortunata Ondit, Benjie’s mother who had asked for financial help from Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, said her son did not mention they were forced to dance, although she said her son is interested in dancing.

THAI SUGAR SET TO FLOOD CEBU

CEBU CITY (PNA) — Cebu will soon be flooded with imported sugar once the cargo of 564 million kilos of refined sugar from Thailand is released by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) from the Cebu International Port (CIP) where it is now stocked. In a letter to Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, Romeo Jimenez, director of Group Marketing Operations Department of the National Food Authority (NFA), said the imported sugar is under the NFA’s Private Sector Finance (PSF) sugar important program for 2010 under the Tax Expenditure Subsidy (TES) scheme. The new scheme was adopted by the NFA under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III, who assumed office last July 1. BoC Port of Cebu District Collector Ronnie Silvestre said while the imported sugar reportedly arrived in Cebu from Thailand last July 31, they remained at the CIP. The imported sugar, Jimenez told Alvarez, was shipped to Cebu though the MV Xetha Bhum V.8578 and consigned to NFA “for the account of TMA Commodities Enterprises.” Silvestre and assistant assessment chief Florante Ricarte said the NFA and TMA are waiting for the endorsement of their request from the BoC Collection service in Manila for the deferred payment of duties and taxes. On the other hand, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) under lawyer Rico Rey Holganza has not yet received a copy of the import entry from the consignee.

CAMBODIA WANTS FLIGHTS TO CEBU

CEBU CITY (PNA) — Cambodian Ambassador to the Philippines Hos Sereythonh has said he will push for the establishment of direct flights between his country’s major cities and Cebu. Ambassador Sereythonh said he and President Benigno S. Aquino III have started to discuss the proposal, which is seen to foster tourism and trade between Cambodia and the Philippines. Sri Lanka Ambassador Nawalage Bennet Cooray said a student exchange program between his country and Mandaue City will be created to develop better ties between them. They were among seven ambassadors who were in Cebu since Sunday to attend a business forum organized in time for the celebration of Mandaue City’s 41st Charter Day. Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) president Eric Mendoza said Mandaue City aims to become an “attractive global business destination.” He said the city is among the country’s fastest growing industrial centers. Forty-percent of the country’s total furniture export is produced by the city, he said.