Metro Briefs: Makati cop in mauling video suspended

The policeman who allegedly mauled a person apprehended in an antivagrancy drive in Makati City’s red light district has been suspended pending an investigation into the incident. Senior Supt. Dionisio Bartolome Jr., Makati police chief, on Tuesday said PO3 Roque Paredes was “preventively suspended so as not to influence the investigation.” The alleged victim, Harold Nepomuceno, 21, has contacted the city government to give his version of the incident, which was caught on video and went viral on social media on Sunday. As of press time, however, Nepomuceno had yet to submit a statement, according to Michael Camiña, chief of the city’s legal office. Two short clips uploaded by writer Evan Tan on his Facebook account past midnight on Sunday showed a policeman apparently hitting someone inside an outpost. Tan wrote: “Police are beating up a girl here in Makati Avenue. One of them drew a gun and pointed it at the girl. What a way to end International Women’s Month. Who watches the watchmen?” Earlier, Roda Severino, Bantay Bayan inspector at Barangay Poblacion, said 17 persons were rounded up by the police in the area on Sunday, including a transgender who was brought to the police outpost on P. Burgos Street. —Erika Sauler

DPWH opens QC flood-control project, service road

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) formally opened a P90-million flood control and road project in Quezon City. The project involved the construction of 522 lineal meters of additional service road over the newly built reinforced concrete box culvert or tunnel from Timog Avenue to Scout Borromeo Street. In a statement, the DPWH said the culvert would increase the capacity of Anaran Creek and help mitigate flooding in the South Triangle area, particularly on Mother Ignacia Avenue and Panay avenues. The culvert’s 6-meter-wide top slab was then converted into a two-lane service road. “With the completion of Timog Avenue to Scout Borromeo Street segment, DPWH will continue to step up and take advantage of the good weather in completing similar activities at the 583-lineal meter segment from Scout Borromeo Street to Sgt. Esguerra Street,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said in a statement. —Miguel R. Camus

Help sought to find missing Marikina resident

Rudolf Songcayawon, 34 years old and a resident of Marikina City, has been missing since March 27. He was last seen in a yellow green tank top and a pair of shorts at the Iglesia ni Cristo in Manggahan, near Doña Maria Subdivision in Rodriguez, Rizal province. For any information on his whereabouts, please contact Celine Kate Trinidad at 0997-6254315 or Joey Songcayawon at 0939-3911130.