Metrobriefs

Wrong man picked in QC abduction

A private driver was abducted in Quezon City Thursday morning and was released hours later in Laguna province after his captors realized that they had seized the wrong man, according to Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Richard Albano.

“It seems that the abductors were given the wrong target and even the wrong plate number,” said Albano, who withheld the name of the victim who was taken around 11 a.m. on Roces Avenue.

The QCPD chief said the man, who works for a female physician residing in Quezon City, was driving a Toyota Altis when he was blocked by two vehicles—a Toyota Grandia (HXL-579) and a Toyota Revo—carrying about seven males. After forcing him into one of the vehicles, the suspects “asked for the name of his boss, who turned out to be a different person from the one they were after,” Albano said.

The driver also heard the suspects talk among themselves about the ‘’wrong information” they were given. He was later released unharmed in Cabuyao, Laguna, where he sought help from the police. Albano said the license plate seen on the Grandia turned out to be originally issued to another vehicle, a Toyota Camry. Julie M. Aurelio

2 of 3 bike robbers killed by QC cops

Two men were killed in a shoot-out with the police after they allegedly stole a motorcycle before dawn Friday in Barangay Old Balara, Quezon City.

One of them was described to be 35 to 40 years old, of slim build, fair-skinned, around five feet tall and wearing a black shirt and jeans. The other was about 5’6” in height and had a tattoo of tribal motif on the back, another tattoo that reads “Joker” on his left arm and “Basam” on his right arm.

The suspects were killed on Feria Road by members of the Batasan police station who were alerted by the victim Robert Codilla, a 24-year-old parking attendant. Codilla was riding his motorcycle with a female friend on Don Fabian Extension, Barangay Commonwealth, when three men also on a motorcycle blocked his path and seized his bike at gunpoint.

Insp. Elmer Monsalve, homicide section chief, said Codilla sought help from policemen in the area, who brought him along to hunt down the suspects.

They were passing through Old Balara when the victim spotted the suspects with his motorcycle. A chase ensued, with the suspects firing at the police. One of them managed to escape, leaving behind Codilla’s bike and his two slain cohorts who had used it. Julie M. Aurelio

Mom seeks help for son with leukemia

RAMOS

Energetic, full of zest and “makulit” (in the words of his mom Pinkie), Zackari Jaired Ramos seems like any other normal, healthy 6-year-old boy. More than a year ago, however, Zack was diagnosed with an aggressive type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a disease in which the body produces a large number of immature white blood cells called lymphocytes.

As the cancer cells multiply, they replace normal cells in the bone marrow and prevent the growth of healthy blood cells, leading to life-threatening symptoms. Immediately after Zack was diagnosed with the disease in May 2012, doctors at Philippine Children’s Medical Center prescribed three years of chemotherapy, his mother Pinkie Ramos told the Inquirer.

Despite his condition, Zack continues to have a very positive outlook on life. His doctors, however, have warned Pinkie that he must continue with his monthly chemotherapy sessions to prevent the cancer from recurring. Right now, she spends at least P20,000 every month for his chemo (injectable and oral types) and maintenance medicine.

Pinkie is appealing for help from Inquirer readers as Zack’s condition has prevented her from working full-time since he needs to be constantly monitored. She tries to raise the money for his monthly medical bills by being a part-time vendor and with the help of her mother, relatives and friends.

Those who want to get in touch with Pinkie can call her at 0919-4484820. Donors can deposit their donations into her BPI savings account (account name Hildegard Pinkie A. Ramos; account number 2796 1884 55).