MetroBriefs

MMDA: No one can stop ban on smoking

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) remains committed to making the capital smoke-free despite the challenge to its newly implemented ban on public smoking at the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court. “They will not stop the MMDA from implementing [the smoking ban] especially [since it] has the blessing of all the mayors of Metro Manila,” MMDA assistant general manager for planning Tina Velasco said in a radio interview Sunday. Last month, two men who were fined for smoking on the sidewalk in Cubao, along Edsa, took the agency to court and asked that the MMDA be stopped from implementing the ban on smoking in public places. Velasco said the MMDA would file its comment on the case next week.—Miko Morelos

Stray dogs adopted

The Caloocan City government has taken in 1,594 stray dogs that had been abandoned by their owners. The figure was based on the records of the city veterinary office which, according to Mayor Recom Echiverri, “would no doubt continue to rise” because of the campaign against stray dogs. “It’s too risky to have our children play on the streets knowing that there are stray dogs wandering around,” Echiverri said in an e-mailed statement Sunday. According to him, the city government has so far
administered free antirabies vaccinations to 24,363 dogs in the 188 barangays (villages) in the area. He also encouraged residents to contact the city veterinary office in case they see stray dogs roaming near their homes so that the animals may be taken off from the streets before they cause harm to anyone.—Niña Calleja

1 dead, 1 hurt in fight

An 18-year-old Filipino-Norwegian who was scheduled to fly back to Norway on Sunday was shot and killed when he tried to stop a fistfight in front of a row of entertainment bars on Timog Avenue in Quezon City. Police Officer 2 Hermogenes Capili of the Quezon City Police District Criminal and Investigation Unit said another man was injured when the gunman, described by witnesses as Chinese-looking, of medium build and with the tattoo of the face of a woman on his left shoulder, fired at least four times on the victim, identified as Michael Troy Rasay. Rasay died on the spot while Arjay Lagdameo was hospitalized after he took a bullet to the face. The gunman then escaped on a gray Mazda with plate number WXJ 502.—Nancy C. Carvajal

Benefit concert for sick newsman

A band composed of congressmen will share the stage with two of the country’s best performing bands in a benefit concert for cancer-stricken veteran newspaperman Raul Beltran of the Journal Group of Publications on August 10 at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City. “On the Beat,” which was named after Beltran’s column in People’s Tonight, will feature the “Lousy Boys” composed of representatives. Sonny Angara (LDP, Aurora), Justin Marc Chipeco (NP, Laguna) and Bem Noel (An Waray), together with former Representatives Gilbert Remulla (NP, Cavite), Mujiv Hataman (Anak Mindanao) and Joel Villanueva (CIBAC), now director general of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Other performing bands are The Bloomfields and The Double Vision. For more information, contact Ryan Pacpaco at 0917-8049127 or Ben Rosario at 0920-9228380.