Newsbriefs

QUEZON

Hanging bridge snaps, injures 10

Ten persons, including a two-year-old boy, were injured when a suspension bridge gave way in Macalelon, Quezon on Tuesday, police said.

Senior Inspector Rheden Manalo, Macalelon police chief, said around 6 p.m. as the victims, most of them students, were crossing the 100-meter hanging bridge in Barangay Masipag, its old steel cable snapped, causing the victims to tumble into a shallow river seven feet below. Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO: Ex-OFW nabbed for drugs

Police and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Luzon on Sunday arrested a former overseas Filipino worker here for possessing P1.6 million worth of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) hidden in a pair of rubber slippers that he intended to ship to Saudi Arabia.

Reports said Jonas Lopez, 32, was arrested in his house in Barangay Sindalan here, where four plastic sachets of shabu, weighing 327 grams, were recovered from him.  Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon

Blast not work of NPA, says cop

Police and military officials on Monday ruled out the involvement of communist rebels in a blast that damaged a steel and wooden bridge leading to a mining site in Masinloc, Zambales, on Sunday.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Santiago, Zambales police director, said there were “no indicators” that the New People’s Army (NPA) was behind the blast in Barangay (village) Taltal. “The NPA has no presence in the area,” said Santiago. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon

CABANATUAN CITY: Police break up gun syndicate

Police here said they broke up a suspected gun manufacturing syndicate on Thursday with the arrest of a gun trader and seven people who were hired to make and repair unlicensed weapons at a house in Barangay Mayapyap Norte.

Also on Thursday, Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nieves, Nueva Ecija police director, said police arrested Henry San Juan, who was caught selling unlicensed guns in a buy-bust operation. Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon

EVENTS

Enrile: Renewable energy for Mindanao

Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile on Wednesday pushed for the full implementation of the Renewable Energy Law especially in Mindanao to address the island’s power needs.

“We now have an important piece of legislation and all we need to do is implement the law and accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy resources,” said Enrile in a press statement.

Enrile issued the statement in the wake of reports quoting the Department of Energy as saying Mindanao needs to produce at least 300 megawatts of additional electricity to solve the island’s power shortage.

Enrile said as hydropower continues to be a main source of electricity in Mindanao, the government must strictly enforce laws requiring the rehabilitation and protection of watersheds.

“I also call on all local government units (LGUs) of Mindanao to undertake energy efficiency and conservation programs,” said Enrile.