Metrobriefs
Indian trader robbed
An Indian trader on Tuesday lost P50,000 worth of valuables to robbers who broke into his house in Mandaluyong City. Case investigator PO2 Jesus Busadre of the Mandaluyong police identified the victim as Gurmeet Sinah, a businessman and resident of Barangay Plainview. Busadre said the Indian trader reported that he saw a man walking away from his house at around 2 a.m. but he did not think anything of it until he discovered the burglary. Stolen from him were an undetermined amount of cash, a laptop computer and cell phones. The burglars also took his immigration and identification documents. “The robbers may have entered the house through the front door … We found no signs of forced entry,” Busadre told the Inquirer. Busadre said that the Indian trader was no longer interested in tracking down the thieves and that he was only after recovering his immigration papers. Niña Calleja
Fake media man arrested
A man who attempted to extort money from a businessman in Cubao, Quezon City, on Monday night was arrested in an entrapment operation Tuesday morning. Noel Pabustan, 51, of Barangay Bambang, Novaliches, Quezon City, had introduced himself as a reporter of radio station dwBL 1242 and circulation manager of Headline Ngayon. He then asked Joel Aquino, owner of a bingo outlet on Aurora Boulevard corner Westpoint Street, for P30,000 or he would have the establishment shut down with the help of his “media connections.” However, Aquino reported the matter to the Cubao police which in turn set up an entrapment operation, resulting in Pabustan’s arrest. The Inquirer called dwBL to confirm if Pabustan was an employee but an operator who refused to be named denied that the man worked for the radio station. Penelope P. Endozo
Beggar kills self
A 65-year-old beggar killed himself before dawn Tuesday at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) compound in Manila. When found, Waway Catelo was hanging from a rope which had been tied around a portion of the rear exit gate of the PPA Port Management Office at North Harbor Pier 4. PO2 Bernardo Cayabyab of the Manila Police District homicide section said the body was discovered at around 2:30 a.m. by security guard Joy Simon. Cayabyab said that Simon was on routine patrol around the PPA-PMO compound when he spotted Catelo standing by the rear exit fence. The case investigator pointed out that Simon called out to the beggar but when he did not respond, the security guard decided to approach him. It was then that he found out that Catelo had killed himself. Cayabyab said that based on Simon’s statement, Catelo usually hung out near the PPA-PMO office, begging for alms. He added that days before he killed himself, the beggar had been complaining of pain. The body was brought to a funeral home for autopsy. Jeannette I. Andrade
Motorcycle thief nabbed
Makati policemen arrested a 34-year-old man who allegedly attempted to steal a motorcycle in Barangay Tejeros on Tuesday. Senior Insp. Brimar Rodica, of the Makati City Police, identified the man as Bernardo Sarcos, of Gagalangin, Tondo in Manila. Initial investigation showed that he was arrested at around 12:45 p.m. on Kalayaan Avenue in Barangay Tejeros after patrolling policemen spotted him destroying the ignition switch of a motorcycle. Tina G. Santos
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Their crisis hotlines are available at 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free), 0917-899-USAP (8727), 0966-351-4518, and 0908-639-2672. For more information, visit their website: (https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline)
Alternatively, you can contact Hopeline PH at the following numbers: 0917-5584673, 0918-8734673, 88044673. Additional resources are available at ngf-mindstrong.org, or connect with them on Facebook at Hopeline PH.
