COA woman loses jewels, 9-mm to cons
AN AUDITOR of the Commission on Audit lost nearly P1 million worth of jewelry and other items that included a handgun—plus the safety box that contained them—after her granddaughter was duped by suspected con artists. Cynthia Butlong-Ferrer, 50, told the police on Friday that she lost important papers, assorted jewelry and a 9-mm pistol to the suspects around noon on Nov. 7. Case investigator SPO1 Cristituto Zaldaeriaga said a woman called up Ermachela Ferrer, the victim’s granddaughter, who was then at the elder Ferrer’s home in North Olympus Subdivision, Barangay Kaligayahan. The caller claimed that Ferrer was hurt in a vehicular accident and was rushed to the hospital, and told Ermachela to open the steel cabinet inside the master bedroom and get the safety box kept inside it. The granddaughter was told to bring the box to a Puregold outlet on Commonwealth Avenue, Barangay Greater Fairview. At the meeting place, a woman approached Ermachela and took the box, telling her to wait for “Laura,” supposedly a member of Ferrer’s staff, who would then bring her to the hospital. Nobody came, until the younger Ferrer texted her grandmother and realized it was all a hoax. According to Zaldaeriaga, the state auditor’s handgun was licensed. Julie M. Aurelio
Village chair shot dead on his tricycle
A BARANGAY chair was shot and killed by gunmen on a motorcycle Thursday afternoon in Caloocan City. El Rey Magat, 26, was driving his own tricycle when attacked around 3 p.m. on Florencia Street in Barangay 67, Zone 6, where he was the village chair. Chief Insp. Rodrigo Soriano of the Caloocan police said Magat was brought to Manila Central University Hospital where he died four hours later. Rima Granali
2-day bazaar, food festival for a cause
TZU CHI Foundation Philippines will hold a charity bazaar and food festival today and tomorrow at the Tzu Chi Great Love Campus at No. 1000 Cordillera corner Lubiran streets in Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila. The bazaar is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will offer products ranging from personal items to housewares. The food festival will also showcase vegetarian dishes, including food items from Taiwan. In line with the charity drive, a donation to the foundation worth P1,000 will entitle the donor to a coupon that may be used to purchase any item at the fair. Proceeds of the project will all go to the construction of the Tzu Chi Eye Center for indigent patients.