Metro Briefs: Sept. 12, 2018

6 yield P4.6-M marijuana

Six drug suspects who were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Cubao, Quezon City, on Monday evening yielded P4.6 million worth of marijuana.

Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel, Quezon City Police District director, said a joint team from the Cubao police station 7’s drug enforcement unit and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency seized 35 kilos of marijuana bricks and fruiting tops in an apartment on Denver Street at Barangay Immaculate Concepcion around 8 p.m.

The target of the entrapment operation was Grenie Hierro, 34.

Arrested with him were his alleged drug runners and couriers identified as Lassery Ann Rayo, 30; Anthony John Timpug, 39; Archie Visperas, 22; Randbel Clifford Venzon, 20; and a 16-year-old boy.

In a report, Station 7 commander Supt. Giovanni Hycenth Caliao said the operation was based on a tip sent to the National Capital Region Police Office’s text hotline. —Jodee A. Agoncillo

Well-meaning exec warned

Although his intentions were good, his actions were in violation of the law.

As a result, the Caloocan City Council has ordered a barangay chair to temporarily stop deploying an ambulance without first getting a permit from the Department of Health.

Based on a report received by the city council, Barangay 14 chair Alex Mangasar was fielding the ambulance staffed with rescue personnel who had no proper training.

“It’s not wrong to help. However, sometimes it will only worsen the situation if it’s not done properly,” Mayor Oscar Malapitan said on Tuesday.

Mangasar’s actions were allegedly in violation of City Ordinance No. 0741 Series of 2018, which required all organizations to secure certifications of reliability and road worthiness for rescue vehicles and ensure that rescue personnel must be professionally trained. —Mariejo S. Ramos