Metrobriefs

5 QC cops cleared of robbing colleagues

A QUEZON City court has cleared five policemen of allegedly robbing their fellow law enforcers in a brief scuffle outside a night club in Cubao during a call for police assistance 13 years ago. Acquitted were SPO1 Allan de la Cruz, SPO2 Cresencio Bajao, PO2 Rey Briana, PO1s Joseph Dino and Isaias Merced, all of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit. In her eight-page ruling, Assisting Judge Genie Gapas-Agbada of Regional Trial Court Branch 221 said the prosecution failed to prove the policemen’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. De la Cruz et al were charged for allegedly robbing PO2s Jaime Cariaso, Arturo Fillion and Rolando Closa of their money in December 1998. Julie M. Aurelio

Wave of bike thefts sweep Manila

A 24-HOUR wave of motorcycle theft incidents swept Manila from Friday to Saturday morning. Five men lost the motorbikes they had left unattended to thieves while another was stripped of his ride by three gun-wielding robbers. Police identified the victims as Belto Pastolero, 50, a production technician of a brewery company; Ronaldo Zonio, 26, a messenger; Jerry Palinat, 30, a vendor; Arnaldo Pacatimbang, 31, a photographer; John Rey Cruz, 23, of Paco; and Geruvel Empino, 24, a vendor. Empino lost his bike to three robbers who rode in two bikes and who blocked his path at the corner of Dapitan and Cristobal streets in Sampaloc, Manila, at around 3:55 a.m. Saturday. The five other victims lost their motorcycles to thieves while these were parked outside their house or other establishments. Operatives of the MPD-ANCARH are conducting follow-up operations for the identification and arrest of the thieves and recovery of the stolen motorcycles. Jeannette I. Andrade

2 dead bodies found by barangay patrol

PATROLLING officials of Barangay Maytunas in San Juan City found two dead bodies in a dimly lit area Saturday night. Senior Supt. Rainier Espina, San Juan chief of police, said both victims, possibly in their early and mid-30s, were handcuffed and blindfolded with a masking tape. Espina said there were details in the scene that seem to indicate whoever killed the men did not want police to have a difficult time in conducting their investigation.  He said three bullet shells that were found in the scene had been placed on the stomach of the younger victim. The shells were from a .45 cal. revolver, Espina said, and seemed to be consistent with the bullet wounds found in the forehead of the elder victim, and the right and left temples of the younger one. Kristine Felisse Mangunay