Metro Briefs: March 29, 2019

DBM rejects Makati City gov’t salary increases

The more than 10,000 employees of the Makati City government will not be receiving their salary increases until after a new budget is passed, in June at the earliest, by the city’s new set of councilors. This developed after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) rejected the proposed city budget, specified under City Ordinance No. 2019-005, which was belatedly passed by a divided city council and failed to comply with the law. DBM National Capital Region Director Ruby Muro declared the budget ordinance  “inoperative in its entirety.” Consequently, last year’s budget of P15.69 billion was deemed reenacted. The council appropriated P17.928 billion for 2019, which was higher than the city’s estimated income of P17.926. —DEXTER CABALZA

Manila barangay councilor on narcolist shot dead

A Manila barangay councilor suspected of drug trafficking was killed on Thursday by police drug operatives. Barangay 561 kagawad Ronnie Labongray Jr. died of gunshot wounds after he allegedly shot it out with members of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and Sampaloc police station who were serving him a search warrant issued by Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20. Police said they found a .45-caliber pistol next to the victim and 150 grams of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P1.02 million. Police also arrested Ronelyn Labongray, Alfredo Joanino and Jeffrey Gailaron and confiscated 200 g of shabu from them. Police Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO chief, said Labongray was on the government’s so-called narcolist. —DEXTER CABALZA