Time to change tricycle fares in Valenzuela?

Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian Tuesday said he would order a review of tricycle fares in the city in the light of dropping oil prices in the world market. Despite the series of oil price rollbacks and various moves in other Metro Manila cities to lower tricycle fares, no one has filed a similar petition in Valenzuela City. But Gatchalian told the Inquirer that the city government has the power to review the city’s fare rates given the decreasing prices of oil in the world market. He said he would order the city’s lawmakers to reevaluate the tricycle fare matrix enforced within the city to see whether there is a need to change it. Right now, tricycle drivers in Valenzuela charge between P8 and P12 depending on the passenger’s destination. Beverly T. Natividad

Dead man found near Malacañang grounds

The body of a still unidentified man was found Monday night floating among the lilies in the Pasig River behind Malacañang Palace. Manila Police District homicide investigators have not determined the cause of death of the man described to be between 35 and 40 years old, 5’6” tall, and clad in an orange T-shirt worn over a pair of denim pants. The victim’s body did not show signs of external injury. Reports from the homicide section showed that the body was fished out at around 6:15 p.m. Philippine Coast Guard member 2Lt. Erwin Tolentino was reportedly patrolling the Malacañang grounds when he spotted the body among a patch of lilies. Tolentino informed his colleagues about his find and together, they retrieved the corpse from the water and brought it to the Arroceros Coast Guard station from where they sought police assistance. Homicide investigators are conducting followup operations for the victim’s identification. Jeannette I. Andrade

‘Santa cops’ in Mandaluyong, San Juan malls

Policemen wearing Santa Claus’ red cap will soon be seen in the busy malls of the cities of Mandaluyong and San Juan as part of the Philippine National Police’s efforts to beef up security in department stores during the holiday season. The Eastern Police District (EPD) will be deploying an additional 40 “Santa cops” to commercial centers in the area like SM Megamall, Shangri-la, Podium, Starmall and Robinson’s Place Pioneer starting this week. They will remain there until the end of the New Year celebration. Chief Supt. Lino Calingasan, EPD chief, told the Inquirer that the move would ensure that police visibility is intensified in these malls, where people are expected to flock to do their Christmas shopping. In true Santa Claus fashion, Calingasan added, the police would also be giving away candies and small gifts to children in these places. Beverly T. Natividad

QCPD firepower gets a big boost

Crime fighting in Quezon City has just received a big boost. The Quezon City government has spent P2.38 million to purchase firearms, ammunition and equipment for the use of the Quezon City Police District. The additional equipment, which included shotguns, ammunition for cal. .45, 9 mm, cal. .40 and M16 rifles, were turned over to the QCPD during its 69th founding anniversary rites last week. Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the city government also donated other gear like vests, helmets, holsters, knee and elbow pads, gloves, goggles, boots, face visors and trauma plates for the protection of policemen during their crime-fighting operations. Julie M. Aurelio