Metrobriefs

State of calamity in Manila

Manila councilors have passed a resolution declaring a state of calamity in the city due to the destruction wrought by Typhoon “Pedring” last month. “It is imperative to declare a state of calamity in the City of Manila and extend assistance to the residents affected, as well as … repair … damaged city [property] that need immediate restoration, including those situated on Roxas Boulevard,” a portion of the resolution read. It was penned by city council majority floor leader Maria Sheilah Lacuna-Pangan, passed by the council during its regular session on Tuesday and signed by presiding officer and Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso who is serving as acting mayor in place of Alfredo Lim who is out of the country.—Jaymee T. Gamil

Driver in fatal crash out on bail

One of the bus drivers involved in the Quezon City accident that killed veteran journalist and professor Chit Estella in May has been freed on bail. Earlier this week, Victor Ancheta of Nova Auto Transport Bus posted bail of P15,000 after Judge Ralph Lee of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 83 granted his petition to lower the bail bond from P30,000. The other driver involved in the accident, Daniel Espinosa of Universal Guiding Star Busline, has yet to post bail. Both drivers are facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with homicide. On October 8, Ancheta asked the court to reduce his bail, saying that as a bus driver, he earns just enough to provide for his family.—Julie M. Aurelio

20 cops charged with robbery

Twenty policemen were charged Thursday with robbery in band, almost five years after they allegedly ransacked a businessman’s house in Manila. The policemen, formerly assigned at the Manila Police District Station 1, were accused of stealing more than P2 million in cash, jewelry and other valuables from the house during an illegal raid on the house owned by couple Leah Vasquez and Venson Tan in Gagalangin, Tondo, in 2007. Charged before the Manila Regional Trial Court were Senior Police Officer 2 Mario Sanchez, SPO1 Daniel Dela Cruz Gaddi Jr., PO3 Nestor Tunacao Inot, Police Officers 2 Jhovani de Castro Chua, Christopher Palapal, Melchor Balao Nunez, Dranreb de Castro Cipriano, Fernando Pena Diamzon and Police Officers 1 Maurision Cauras Ablaza, Elmer Panganiban Clemente, Miguelito Gallardo Gil, Raffy Nicolas Padua, Leandro Rodriguez Ventanilla, Ritchie Lopez Yapit, Enrique Cruz Miranda, Marlon de la Cruz Canlapan, Sonny Delgado Gahol, Christopher Salonga Laus, Mark Dave de la Cruz Vicente and Rudolf Enriquez Mijares.—Jaymee T. Gamil