Metrobriefs

Dumbbell turns deadly in ex-mental patient’s hands

A 30-year-old man was stabbed about 20 times and bludgeoned to death with a dumbbell by a former mental patient whom he encountered in an alley in Sampaloc, Manila, on Thursday night. Police said Francis Paul Alarcon of Paltoc Street, Sampaloc, was killed by Dionisio Jose, 58, a former casino card dealer residing on Santiago Street. The killing happened at around 10 p.m. along Alley 2, where the two men accidentally touched shoulders as they passed by each other. Enraged by the contact, Jose, then carrying a dumbbell as a habit, used it to hit Alarcon several times in the head before drawing a knife. SPO2 Milbert Balinggan of the Manila Police District homicide section said Jose only stopped stabbing Alarcon after witnesses screamed in horror. The suspect, who received treatment at the National Center for Mental Health years ago, reportedly had a quarrel with his wife earlier that night. He fled the scene of the crime and remained at large as of Friday. Jeannette I. Andrade

Another call center agent killed at Meralco-Ortigas

A call center agent died after being hit by a jeepney at a Pasig City intersection on Thursday night. Police said Juli Jay Livelio,24, of Barangay San Andres, was crossing the Meralco-Ortigas Avenue intersection at around 8:30 p.m. when he was hit and run over by a southbound passenger jeepney (DEY-233) driven by Bartolome Parocha Jr., 23, of Taytay, Rizal. The driver, who got off the vehicle and fled the scene on foot after the incident, is now the target of a police manhunt. In September last year, another call center agent died after being hit by a car at the same intersection. Niña Calleja and Christine Exevea

Fire hits Munti building housing textile goods

A six-hour fire broke out at the Shell Canvas building on East Service Road, Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, Friday. The blaze, which started at around 10:30 a.m., engulfed the third and fourth floors where much of the company’s textile and foam products were stored, said Conrado Grape of the city fire department. Nathaniel R. Melican

Romulo D. Flores; 65

Romulo Duran Flores, former head of Sikap-Buhay program of the Quezon City government, died at 7:30 a.m. Friday. He was 65. He is survived by wife Ine, children Bernard, Roy and Alma, and Katherine. His body lies at St. Paul of the Cross Parish Church, SSS Village, Marikina City.