MetroBriefs

Mandaluyong fire leaves 2K families homeless

AROUND 2,000 families lost their homes in a fire that broke out in a residential area in Mandaluyong City Wednesday afternoon.

Senior Supt. Samuel Tadeo, Eastern Manila District fire marshal, said the fire started around 2 p.m. and quickly spread across Block 32, Molave Street in Barangay Addition Hills due to a strong breeze.

Firefighters also encountered difficulties because of the narrow alleys and the lack of fire hydrants in the area.

There were no reported casualties but at least two residents suffered cuts while escaping the fire, which was declared under control around 6:10 p.m.

The displaced families were temporarily sheltered in five evacuation centers in the city. Jovic Yee

2 fall in P9-M QC drug bust

THE QUEZON City Police District on Wednesday arrested two suspected members of a Chinese-led drug syndicate in a buy-bust operation that yielded three kilos of “shabu” with a street value of P9 million.

Paul Co, a 44-year-old businessman from Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City, and Arvin Caray, 38, a family driver residing in Makati City, were arrested on V. Luna Avenue corner Mapagbigay Street, Barangay Piñahan.

The suspects were believed to be working for one of the nine major drug trafficking groups being monitored by the Philippine National Police, said Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento.

Wednesday’s operation was carried out after two weeks of surveillance and undercover work by the QCPD Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group led by Chief Insp. Enrico Figueroa and the District Special Operations Unit headed by Supt. Jay Agcaoili. Also seized from the suspects were a red Suzuki Swift, three cell phones and the marked money used by the poseur buyer to procure a kilo of shabu. Erika Sauler, Jamille Yap