Saying lawmen should “not be afraid to die,” Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa awarded on Monday a promotion to the policeman who stopped a bus robbery in Quezon City. Dela Rosa promoted PO2 Joselito Lantano to the rank of Police Officer 3 for his role in stopping the robbery of a Diamond Star bus bound for Valenzuela on April 4. He also gave Lantano a Glock pistol. Lantano, a member of the PNP-Police Security and Protection Group in Camp Crame, was on his way home to Bulacan when one of three robbers declared a heist. “When we got to (Mega) Q Mart, someone fired a shot so I was alerted. The (ticket) conductor ran to the driver and told him we were being held up,” he said. “I held my gun and when I turned to one side while I was seated, we saw each other and he lifted his gun. I introduced myself as a policeman and I also lifted my gun. We lifted our guns at the same time. He pointed his gun at me but I was able to pull the trigger first,” Lantano added. With the help of responding policemen, he was able to arrest the alleged accomplices of the dead suspect identified as Eduardo Gimenteza. —Philip C. Tubeza
PCSO: No lotto sales, draws from April 13 to 16
In recognition of the “solemnity of Holy Week,” there will be no selling of lotto tickets or lotto draws from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office vice chair and general manager Alexander Balutan said that this would also allow lotto agents and PCSO employees to observe the Holy Week. Ticket sales will resume on April 17. —Jodee A. Agoncillo
Pasig ferry offers Visita Iglesia services
The Pasig River ferry service will be open today only to personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) going on Visita Iglesia. From 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., MMDA employees can ride for free on the Pasig ferry to get to the seven churches near the ferry stations. These are the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and National Shrine near Guadalupe station, the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church near the Sta. Ana and Polytechnic University of the Philippines stations in Manila, respectively; Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Sta. Cruz Church near the Escolta station and finally, the Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church near Plaza Mexico station. On Holy Wednesday and Maundy Thursday, the Pasig ferry will be open to the public but operations will be suspended from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Meanwhile, the MMDA has also lifted the light truck ban on Edsa and Shaw Boulevard starting today, Holy Tuesday, until Black Saturday. The Metro Rail Transit 3 and Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 will also halt operations from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday to give way to the annual maintenance and checkup of the train systems. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial advised the public, particularly those who would visit churches, to keep themselves hydrated. “We strongly remind the public to bring bottled water to avoid heat stroke and severe exhaustion as they observe Holy Week activities,” she said on Monday. “Wear comfortable clothing and bring caps and umbrellas to protect yourself from the extreme heat of the sun,” she added. —Jovic Yee, Tina G. Santos