Metro Briefs: July 12, 2019

Cars damaged in grenade blast near QC restaurant

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has started looking into the motive behind a grenade explosion near a Korean restaurant in Quezon City shortly after Wednesday midnight. Although no one was hurt, the blast caused minor damage to two vehicles and plant pots in the area. According to Police Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel, the QCPD director, they received a report about the explosion around 12:40 a.m. on Scout Tuazon Street corner Timog Avenue.  A witness said that he heard a loud blast near the restaurant and saw an unidentified man wearing a black shirt and a ball cap casually walking away. Recovered from the scene were a safety lever, a striker spring and other parts from an MK-2 fragmentation hand grenade.  —Mariejo S. Ramos

Marikina mayor eyes Yellow Cards for residents

Marikina City residents may soon have Yellow Cards of their own, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro announced on Thursday.  Teodoro said he was planning a major revamp of the city’s healthcare system with the help of the Makati City  government  which had provided some 62,000 of its own residents with health subsidy cards known as Yellow Cards. Once Marikina residents have their own cards, they and their registered dependents could use it for free outpatient consultation and subsidized hospitalization and diagnostic tests, he added in a statement.  They would also be able to use the card in  partner-facilities to avail themselves of specialized medical and diagnostic services similar to Makati, where Yellow Card holders were entitled to certain free or subsidized services in both Makati Medical Center and the city-run Ospital Ng Makati.  Maintenance drugs for hypertension and diabetes at Makati’s eight pharmacy outlets are also free for cardholders. Teodoro said that in the meantime, residents of the city who were in “dire need” of medical assistance could approach the local government, which provides a subsidy of up to P100,000 for hospital bills and medicines. —Matthew Reysio-Cruz

Singles, youth invited to The Lord’s Flock gathering

Singles and young people are invited to a free spirit-filled event featuring dances, songs, games, workshops, inspirational talks and a concert. The Lord’s Flock Catholic charismatic ministry will hold “A name like no other,” the Singles and Youth Faith on Fire 2019, from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 14. The gathering to be held at the Bulacan Capitol gymnasium in Malolos town is open to everyone aged 13 and above. For more information, call 3765780 or 0961-3289316, or visit the Facebook page SYFOF.