Confessed robber gets 4 years
A Pasig judge has sentenced a man who confessed to robbing a pharmacy store several months ago to four years in prison. Presiding Judge Nicanor Manalo of the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 161 recently found John Michael Escobar Ramirez guilty of robbing The Generics Pharmacy and ordered him to pay the owner P13,000, including interest. It took only four months for the judge to hand down his verdict on the case after the accused entered a guilty plea. Ramirez admitted to the court that on Nov. 2, 2011, he and two other men held up the pharmacy store and took cash and valuables worth around P13,000. He was subsequently arrested by the police in a hot pursuit operation. The judge noted that under the Revised Penal Code, a guilty plea is a “mitigating circumstance” which does not exonerate a person but reduces the penalty associated with the offense. Niña Calleja
Housemaid shot dead in Manila
A 26-year-old housemaid was killed while her companion was wounded when a man repeatedly fired at the pedicab they were riding in Monday morning in Manila. Manila Police District homicide section investigators said they were looking into the possibility that the killing may have something to do with the part-time job of Princess Verano, a resident of Del Pan Street in Tondo, as a recruiter for political rallies. She was declared dead on arrival by doctors at Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Hospital due to four gunshot wounds in the body while her companion, 39-year-old port worker Levi Cordova, was shot repeatedly in the legs and remains in the hospital. Case investigator SPO2 Glenzor Vallejo said that the shooting took place around 2 a m. Monday at Area B Gate 52 Parola Compound. Vallejo said that the duo were on their way home from a drinking spree when someone suddenly fired at their pedicab. Their driver escaped injury by jumping off the vehicle and then rushed his passengers to the hospital after the shooting. The police said they were looking at all possible angles, including the possibility that a rival recruiter may be behind Verano’s killing. Jeannette I. Andrade
Rotary Club induction set
The new board of directors and officers of the Rotary Club of New Manila East, led by their incumbent president, Herminio “Hermie” Carreon, will be formally inducted at Acropolis club house in Libis, Quezon City, on July 24 at 7 p.m. Other officers of the club include Manny Gorospe, vice president; Fausto Manlapaz, incoming president and secretary; Tony Tanada, treasurer and Noel Duenas, club administration committee chair. Past district Governor Danny Fausto is the club trainer. The group is the partner of Metrobank Foundation in the multiawarded project, “Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service.” At the recent awards night of Rotary District 3780, it garnered 29 awards, including the coveted “Most Outstanding Rotary Club of District 3780,” for its achievements from 2010-2011.