MetroBriefs

Lotto winner from Muntinlupa City claims P155M

A 26-YEAR-OLD sari-sari store owner in Muntinlupa City claimed the P155-million Grand Lotto prize Thursday—but luck had made him more fearful for his life and that of his family. “So this is how it feels when you know you have this much money. It’s really not easy,” the solo winner said when he showed up at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in Pasay City. He said he was still keeping everything secret from friends and relatives but would soon be sharing the money with his siblings, as well as buy a new house and expand his store into a grocery. Spending P60 for a ticket, the man hit the winning combination—2-38-32-19-8-3 —in the Jan. 20 6/55 draw, basing his picks on the birth dates and ages of family members. He won the jackpot after betting on the state lottery for the past four years. Maricar B. Brizuela

Necklace snatcher ‘spits out’ evidence

A ROBBERY suspect tried to hide his crime by putting in his mouth the gold necklace he had grabbed from an elderly woman around noon Wednesday in Quezon City. However, Freddie Espinosa, 25, a resident of Erap City in Rodriguez, Rizal province, was forced to “spit out” his loot when arrested, according to PO2 Wilmor Bataanon of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD). The jewelry was returned to owner Rose Jenaka, 69, of Parañaque City. Bataanon said the woman had just left Francesca Towers condominium and was walking along Scout Borromeo Street when Espinosa snatched the necklace she was wearing. Fortunately for the victim, PO1s Jojit Cauan and Christian Greg Reyes of the QCPD Kamuning station were on patrol in the area and saw the incident. After catching up with Espinosa, they sensed he was hiding his loot in the mouth. Julie M. Aurelio

Con artist tricks minor into giving mom’s jewels

A WOMAN lost P1.6 million in valuables to a female con artist who tricked her daughter into believing that she had met an accident Wednesday afternoon. In a complaint to the Quezon City police, Marissa Cathelineau, 53, of Camarin Road, Caloocan City, said a woman phoned her underaged daughter at home to say her mother urgently needed money for hospitalization. The call prompted the minor to gather her mother’s cash and jewelry, including three diamond-studded rings, a gold bracelet, 10 gold pendants and gold earrings. She was instructed to hand them over to a woman waiting for her around 1:30 p.m. at a bus stop outside Robinson’s Mall in Barangay Pasong Putik, Fairview, according to PO2 Rhic Roldan Pittong. The girl returned home only to see her mother unharmed and realize that it was a scam. She described the woman she met at the bus stop as “chubby” and sporting long blond hair, Pittong said.  Julie M. Aurelio

Aguida Kwan; 89

Aguida Pusing Kwan, 89, of Masbate, Masbate, died of natural causes on Jan. 18. Interment will be at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 24, at Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City. She is survived by her children Pio, Evelyn, Marilyn, Felipe, Aida, Naida and Juliet and their spouses; grandchildren and great grandchildren.