Metrobriefs

P10M loan OKd for Parañaque slum dwellers

Residents of Sarikap Gonzales community in San Isidro, Parañaque City, are a step closer to having their own homes. The Social Housing Finance Corp. has approved a P10-million community mortgage for the homeowners association. The loan will go to the purchase of a 3,000-sq meter lot in San Isidro and benefit up to 99 families, the city government said. The association applied for the mortgage last year, with Mayor Florencio Bernabe vouching for their application. Nathaniel R. Melican

Korean ‘stole’ iPhone of Manila councilor

A Korean tourist was held by police Friday night after Manila Councilor Joel Chua accused him of stealing his iPhone 4S at a hotel in Malate. Investigation showed that Chua left his phone in the gym of Hyatt hotel at around 9 p.m. when Hwang Junsuk, another hotel guest, took it. When accosted by security, Hwang claimed the gadget to be his—until it showed Chua’s picture when he turned the phone on. Chua decided not to press charges after the Korean apologized. Police released the tourist after five hours in detention “for humanitarian reasons.”  Jeannette I. Andrade

Maid to foreigner: Don’t jump!

A man, described by police as blond-haired and apparently a foreigner, jumped to his death from the 9th floor of Pacific Centre Building on Quintin Paredes Street in Binondo, Manila, on Thursday. The Manila Police District said Rialyn Espiritu, a domestic helper working on a lower floor, first saw the man standing on the fire exit ledge and pleaded with him not to jump at around 1 p.m.  Jeannette I. Andrade