TALISAY CITY, Cebu —- The Bantay Dagat project coordinator and national president of the Philippine National Association of Fish Wardens survived an attempt on his life Tuesday afternoon after a gunman shot him several times outside his house in sitio Dawis, barangay Tabunok, this city.

Elpidio "Jojo" Dela Victoria sustained three gunshot wounds in the body after a gunman waiting for his arrival at his residence, fired at him as he was about to enter the door past 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Cebu City Councilor Augusto Pe, who checked on Dela Victoria’s condition at the hospital, said the Bantay Dagat chief was in stable condition and was scheduled to undergo an operation.

Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau Chief Paul Labra II said the police have picked up some persons for questioning.

Dela Victoria was one of those who strongly lobbied for the ban of commercial fishing in the Visayas Sea. His move resulted to the complaints of at least 5,000 members of a fishermen’s organization who were affected by the ban.

Fishing boats’ operators from northern Cebu complained that the ban would result in a drop of supply of marine products and the jacking up of their prices in the markets. They argued that the move would leave thousands jobless.

Dela Victoria is also active in the fight against illegal fishing and have helped in the arrest of several dealers of ammonium nitrate, an ingredient in making explosives.

Last Monday, Dela Victoria joined a team of NBI agents in enforcing a search warrant in Caubian Island, Cebu.

The search resulted to the arrest of four persons and seizure of several sacks of ammonium nitrate.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) yesterday submitted a proposal asking the Makati court to junk Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran’s appeal to be transferred to another hospital.

In a two-page proposal submitted to the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 137 under Judge Jenny Lind Aldecoa-Delorino, the justice department asked the court to scrap the solon’s petition to be moved to another hospital where he prefers to stay.

State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco said there is no evidence that the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital, where the solon is presently detained, lacks the facilities to treat Beltran’s illnesses as his counsel and private doctors imply.

"There is no proof, whatsoever, that the PNP General Hospital lacks adequate facilities to treat his ailments," Velasco said in the manifestation.

He added that up to now, there is no "categorical denial that the accused conspired with the leftists."

Delorino earlier ordered the DOJ and the PNP to comment on the defense’s motion to transfer Beltran to a hospital outside the PNP headquarters.

Romeo Capulong, Beltran’s lawyer, had earlier appealed said the hospital in Camp Crame has proven to be life-threatening for the solon. Beltran’s doctors had earlier submitted to the court a copy of their medical assessment of the solon’s health and recommended that Beltran be transferred to a hospital that can take care of him properly so as to prevent him from suffering another stroke. (Hannah L. Torregoza)

The GSIS has set April 21, 5 p.m., as deadline for application to its scholarship program.

The GSIS has increased the number of its college scholars from the previous 48 to 120 beneficiaries starting this school year.

It has veered away from the traditional competitive examinations and now determines slots by a raffle where all active GSIS members may participate by filling out an application form and submitting the form to any GSIS office or through an accredited GSIS liaison officer.

The GSIS said the decision to do away with the costly examination process this is meant to increase the number of beneficiaries, without incurring additional expense for the state pension fund.

The GSIS Scholarship Program is open to all high school graduates, regardless of age and year of graduation in high school. Even those currently enrolled in college but have not yet graduated from any four- or five-year degree course may be nominated.

The GSIS scholars will receive a maximum of P20,000 in tuition money for every semester in college, plus a monthly allowance of P2,000 for a maximum of P30,000 per semester. The scholars may enroll in any four- or five-year courses of their choice.

Application forms are available at all GSIS branches and offices, or from the GSIS Liaison Officers. Forms may also be reproduced or downloaded from the GSIS website at . For further details, contact the GSIS Human Resources Development Department at 551-1878.