Man arrested for stealing jeepney
A man who had stolen a friend’s passenger jeepney in a desperate bid to win back the affection of his wife and children was arrested by the police Tuesday night. Benedict Pollante, 22, a former jeepney driver, confessed that he took the jeepney of his friend Ariel Balastao because he wanted to sell it so that he would have money to send to his family in Cavite province. According to him, his wife and children left him after he lost his job. Balastao earlier told the police that after he parked his jeepney on Concepcion Street in Barangay (village) San Joaquin, Pasig City, he saw Pollante at around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and invited him for snacks at a nearby canteen. “He even asked Pollante to eat with him. But the suspect refused,” case investigator Police Officer 2 Rommel Marquina said. Later on, Balastao said he saw Pollante driving his jeepney although he did not take any action because he thought the former was just transferring the vehicle to another parking spot. He added that he started panicking, however, when he came out of the canteen and found Pollante and his jeepney gone. Jeepney operators later tracked down Pollante and the stolen vehicle on Lopez Street in Mandaluyong City. Police said that they would charge Pollante with car theft.—Niña Calleja
Dentists celebrate National Dental Month
The Philippine Dental Association (PDA) is spearheading this year’s celebration of National Dental Health Month with the theme “Ngiting Matatamis, Ngiping Malilinis, Dala ay Pagasa, Tunay na Ligaya (Sweet Smiles, Clean Teeth Bring Hope and Genuine Happiness).” Some of the activities to mark the occasion include outreach programs highlighting the importance of oral hygiene, seminars on the role of dental practitioners in nation building and a fun run for PDA members and their family and friends at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City at 4:30 a.m. on February 19. Dr. Arturo P. de Leon, PDEA president, and Dr. Corazon S. Flores, vice president for Luzon South and chair of the National Dental Health Month, invite all PDA chapters to all the scheduled national and regional events.