News Briefs: August 3, 2019

‘Pasalubong’ groceries now available at Naia Terminal 3

Passengers passing through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 will soon be able to buy not only luxury items but even groceries at the first airport grocery in the country. Duty Free Philippines (DFP) on Friday said newly arrived travelers can now buy common grocery items at the DFP Arrival Mall in South Arrival Lobby. DFP chief operating officer Vicente Pelagio Angala said the airport grocery would spare travelers the cost of additional baggage fees. —Jerome Aning

Lawmaker: Provincial bus ban an added difficulty

Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite urged transportation officials to reconsider their proposed ban on provincial buses along Edsa or face the wrath of commuters who would have to pay more for an added difficulty. A dry run of the scheme is set to proceed on Aug. 7 despite protest suits lodged in the Supreme Court. “This bus ban will truly cause undue suffering to so many commuters,” Gaite said. —DJ Yap

Public urged to inform Comelec of kin’s death

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged the public to inform them of the death of a family member so their name can be taken out of the voters’ list. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said it would help in the agency’s efforts to cleanse the voters’ list of deceased voters if families would let them know if their loved ones have already passed on. Currently, Jimenez said the Comelec now used civil registry records but there were instances when the data were not updated in time. The Comelec resumed the registration of voters on Aug. 1 and qualified Filipinos can list up until  Sept. 30. Jimenez said applications may be filed from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the office of the election officer or any satellite registration site in the locality where the aspiring voter resides. —Jovic Yee

Two of three suspected robbers killed in QC

Two robbery suspects were killed in a purported shootout with policemen in Novaliches district in Quezon City on Thursday. Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel, Quezon City Police district director, could not yet identify the two fatalities but he said they were two of three men who supposedly robbed two victims of their personal belongings and motorcycle around 10:30 p.m. along P. dela Cruz St. The police pursued the suspects but they fired at arresting officers. The third suspect managed to escape. —Mariejo S. Ramos