Metrobriefs

‘Manila residents free to decide on RH bill’

The Manila City government on Tuesday said it would not meddle in the stand residents would take on the reproductive health (RH) bill. Mayor Alfredo Lim said that people were free to follow the dictates of their conscience and religious beliefs. He added that parents should be left to decide the number of children they should have since they know better than anyone how many children they could afford to raise. Lim, however, said that he was opposed to the introduction of sex education to children in the fifth and sixth grades as they were too young to be taught a sensitive subject. Maricris Irene V. Tamolang

Trike driver killed, 2 hurt in shooting in QC

A tricycle driver was killed while two more people, including his brother, were wounded when three men on a motorcycle fired at them Tuesday afternoon. SPO2 Neil Garnace of the Quezon City Police District identified the fatality as Rommel Cudianat, 29, a resident of Purok 15, Creekside in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City. Garnace said Cudianat suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot after the motorcycle-riding men opened fire on him and the other victims at 1:45 p.m. His brother, Ronimel, 38; and Mariano Rodaje, 32; were wounded and rushed by bystanders to East Avenue Medical Center. The three victims, all tricycle drivers, were waiting for passengers in front of the Mabuting Pastor Chapel on Pilot Drive, Barangay Commonwealth, when they were shot. Witnesses said the shooters wore bonnets to hide their identities. Based on the bullet shells found at the scene, the gunmen used .45-caliber and 9 mm pistols, according to the police. Nancy C. Carvajal

South African tourist robbed in Manila

A South African tourist reported that he was robbed on Monday afternoon by a taxi driver and his cohort in Manila. Peter Neeskens, 59, a coffee house manager, filed a complaint with the Manila Police District General Assignment Section and said he lost P4,000 in cash, 200 Euros, a cell phone and several identification and automated teller machine cards. According to him, he flagged down the taxi—a white Hyundai car with license plate UIY 615 or 613—at the international airport. When the taxi got to Quezon Boulevard in front of the Quiapo Church, a man got into the taxi and with the help of the driver, they robbed Neeskens. He added that the two ordered him to get off the vehicle on R. Hidalgo Street in front of San Sebastian Church. Jeannette I. Andrade

Pedicab driver stabbed dead

A 40-year-old pedicab driver was stabbed to death on Monday night while he was sleeping inside his parked vehicle in Manila. Flores Rolando was declared dead on arrival by attending doctors at Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Hospital from a stab wound in the chest. His alleged attacker identified only as a certain Toto fled after the attack. PO2 Jason Ibasco of the Manila Police District homicide section said the stabbing happened at around 11 p.m. on Monday on Padre Rada Street in Tondo. Jeannette I. Andrade

Centrists to conduct seminar

The Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI) will conduct a leadership and training seminar for the Centrist Democratic Movement (CDM) Federation of the Philippines from June 8 to 11 at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Hotel in Ortigas, Quezon City. The seminar is in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) to prepare CDM district leaders for the heavy task of expanding the federation by organizing and recruiting members nationwide. Tapped to speak to share their experiences and knowledge are former University of the Philippines president Dr. Jose Abueva, Prof. Clarita Carlos, Subsidiarity International co-convener Philip Camara and KAS representative Dr. Peter Koeppinger.