Three people were killed in separate accidents that occurred just hours apart on Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City. A report to Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District director, said that two men on a motorcycle identified as Carlo Dagpin and Ferdinand Jimenez were headed toward Tandang Sora Avenue around 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Day. However, as they entered the underpass, Dagpin lost control of the motorcycle and hit the center island, said Senior Insp. Josefina Cuartero, commander of traffic sector 6. He died around two hours later due to serious injuries. Hours later, another motorcycle with two riders and a passenger bus were traveling on the same road when the bus’ right rear tire hit the motorcycle. It then ran over the riders, a man and a woman, who remain unidentified, said case officer PO3 Antonio Tabios. The bus driver, Danilo dela Cerna, was arrested. —Jhesset O. Enano
Mall goers panic as lantern catches fire, falls from ceiling
A gigantic lantern suspended from the ceiling of a mall at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, fell to the ground floor on Christmas Day, triggering a panic among shoppers. The police said the three-meter-wide snowflake-shaped lantern spewed black smoke and started burning before it fell onto the activity center where there was an ongoing sale at 7:45 p.m. on Monday. Supt. Jenny Tecson, Southern Police District spokesperson, said the incident caused mallgoers to scramble for the exits although the fire was immediately put out with an extinguisher. Two still unidentified persons were hurt and assisted by mall representatives, Tecson added. The Taguig Bureau of Fire Protection said the cause of the fire was under investigation. —Dexter Cabalza
Drugs, gun seized from drug suspect in Christmas Day bust
A lone drug bust on Christmas Day in Quezon City resulted in the arrest of a drug suspect in Novaliches. The Quezon City Police District identified the suspect as Veejay Ocampo, 35. Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, QCPD director, said that Ocampo was a known drug pusher in Barangay Santa Monica. He was arrested on Geronimo Street around 6 a.m. on Monday. Eleazar said the Novaliches police had received reports about the suspect’s alleged drug-related activities, prompting them to place him under surveillance. Recovered from Ocampo were three sachets of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride), a magazine, six bullets and drug paraphernalia. He faces charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. —Jhesset O. Enano