Telltale letters

In a letter to her husband’s  alleged  mistress, Shella Macapugay swore that only she could own her husband—even in the afterlife. The letter was one of four letters she wrote which were found inside her bag after she  shot her husband, Abel, a promo merchandiser, at  SM mall in Quezon City, on Wednesday. Insp. Elmer Monsalve of the Quezon City Police District’s homicide unit said the other letters were addressed to the woman’s mother, mother-in-law, and  the management of SM. “My husband is mine even after death,” the letter read. Shella shot her husband in the head and also killed a mall security guard who tried to stop her from shooting herself. Chief Insp. Rodelio Marcelo, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said the Quezon City Prosecutors’ office has recommended no bail for Macapugay who has  been charged with parricide for her husband’s death and murder for the death of Richard Inamac, the security guard. In her letter, Macapugay lambasted the  woman for “stealing” her husband. Abel had reportedly left his family for the woman, which could have driven Macapugay to carry out the crime, police said. “How does it feel to lose someone you love? It hurts right? I want you to feel how it feels to lose someone you love. How does it feel to be depressed? To have a life without Abel?” the letter written in Filipino added.  Monsalve said the suspect’s detention cell is under tight guard to prevent her from harming herself.  Julie M. Aurelio

QC cops face raps

A former Quezon  City Police District official and four others have been charged for not informing broadcaster Ted Failon’s sister-in-law  and several others  of their rights when they were arrested after Failon’s wife’s took her own life  in 2009. Facing charges are Senior Supt. Franklin Moises Mabanag, former chief of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit; Supt. Gerardo Ratuita, Chief Inspectors Cherry Lou Donato and Enrico Figueroa and Senior Insp. Roberto Razon. Five counts of violation of Section 2 (b) of Republic Act 7438 (Act Defining Certain Rights of Persons Arrested, Detained or Under Custodial Investigation) have been filed in the sala of  Judge Marie Christine Jacob of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 100. This is apart from five counts of arbitrary detention pending in the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court. The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict the five police officers in court based on the complaints of Failon, his sister-in-law Pamela Arteche-Trinchera, househelp Pacifico Apacible, Carlota Morbos, Wilfredo Bolicer and Glen Polan. The five were arrested in April 2009 shortly after Failon’s wife, Trina Etong, shot herself in the head inside the family home in Tierra Pura Subdivision. Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Kathryn Rose Baliatan however dismissed the perjury and grave coercion charges against the police officers for  lack of sufficient evidence.  Baliatan also junked the cases filed against retired Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales; retired QCPD director Chief Supt. Elmo San Diego; legal officer Senior Insp. Jay Borromeo, Insp. Erlinda Garcia and PO2 Joycelyn Marcelo. Baliatan ruled that there was no legal ground for Failon and the others’  arrest and subsequent detention at Camp Karingal. The Office of the Ombudsman also gave weight and credence to the categorical and consistent declarations of the complainants that they were not informed of their constitutional rights and to have a counsel of their own choice when the policemen arrested them. Julie M. Aurelio

Taxes due Malabon

The city government of Malabon should flex its muscles and collect franchise taxes from multibillion peso electric and telecommunication companies operating in the city, according to the Commission on Audit. The audit agency said Malabon could have earned additional income had it enforced its revenue code which requires the collection of franchise taxes from entities with a government franchise operating within the city limits. Among the companies with a government franchise which Malabon virtually exempted from paying the corresponding taxes are Meralco, PLDT, Bayantel, Digitel, Smart Communications, and Globe Telecom. The franchise tax in Malabon is 75 percent of one percent of the total gross annual receipts obtained by the business operating in the city.  Leila B. Salaverria

Makati  City  ‘Hg-free’

A total of 4.74 tons  of used light bulbs and batteries have been collected, from June to August 2011, through the “Hg-free Makati” initiative of the Makati City Hall and the Zuellig Building.   With the endorsement of Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun” S. Binay and the Liga ng Barangay of Makati, business establishments and residents supported the drive which yielded a monthly average of 1.5 tons of waste containing mercury (Hg) which were properly disposed by New Par Built, a Department of Energy and Natural Resources-accredited toxic waste disposal company.  Banco de Oro, Peninsula Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, the Urdaneta Apartments, Twin Towers and the Atrium of Makati, Phinma Properties and the Power Plant Mall in the Rockwell complex  participated in this drive aimed at  proper toxic waste disposal. Daniel Zuellig, director of Bridgebury Realty Corp., developer of the Zuellig Building, praised the local government for giving its full support and commitment to make Makati “Hg-free.”