Accountant shot over payroll cash
An office accountant was shot in the chest when he refused to yield the payroll money he was carrying to armed robbers a few meters away from their office in Quezon City on Wednesday afternoon, police reported Thursday. The victim, Christopher de Castro, 36, accounting officer of Excellence Security and Investigation, and a companion were about to board their service vehicle when two armed men on board a motorcycle suddenly appeared and at gunpoint declared a holdup. But instead of yielding the bag, police said De Castro refused and fought off the robbers. The other robber then fired at the victim and forcibly took the payroll money amounting to P240,697.67 and drove off.—Nancy C. Carvajal
Trader buying lotto ticket robbed, shot
Two armed men robbed and shot an Indian trader buying a lotto ticket in Mandaluyong City on Thursday afternoon, police said. The victim, Depp Singh, 36, was on his motorcycle waiting for his companion to buy him a ticket at a lotto outlet on Nueve de Pebrero Street in Barangay (village) Addition Hills at around 1:30 p.m., when two men armed with pistols approached him and announced a holdup. When Singh refused to hand them his cash and valuables, the robbers shot him in the abdomen and sped off using his motorcycle taking his money. Singh was taken to Mandaluyong Medical Center for his treatment. Police said the victim was now out of danger after undergoing surgery at the hospital.—Niña Calleja
Caloocan City cited for drive vs measles
The Department of Health has named the city government of Caloocan as the National Capital Region’s top performer in the ongoing vaccination drive against measles, Mayor Enrico Echiverri announced Thursday. He also reported that 230,400 children in the city were vaccinated between April 4 and May 14 under the city-led Ligtas Tigdas campaign. He said the campaign has since been extended to May 30 to reach the 274,000-children target set by the local government.—Niña Calleja
Skills tests among SWAT units set
The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units of all city and municipal police districts are set to test their skills in a metro-wide competition at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) this weekend. “This friendly match aims not just to enhance and test the tactical effectiveness and proficiency of the SWAT units of the NCRPO, but also to establish camaraderie and unity among our forces,” said NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima. The competition will be held in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan in Taguig City.—Penelope Endozo