San Juan bans recycling, sale of used cooking oil

CITING the adverse effects of used cooking oil on health and the environment, the city government of San Juan has banned the recycling and selling of used cooking oil, and its disposal to the waterways and sewers within the city. Authored by Councilor Rolando Bernardo and co-sponsored by nine other councilors, Ordinance No. 15 of 2011 prohibits the recycling of used cooking oil and selling these in the public markets. “We have been receiving reports that packs of used cooking oil have mushroomed in the markets because these were a lot cheaper,” Councilor Angelo Agcaoili, one of the co-sponsors of the ordinance, said over the phone. Recent studies showed that using used cooking oil poses health hazards because reheating the oil produces toxins which increase the risks of diseases. To avoid the disposal of used cooking oil directly to waterways, drainage systems and sewers in the city, all households will be provided with a container where their used cooking oil could be stored. These containers will be gathered by authorized collectors on a regular basis. The collected oil wastes will be processed into bio-diesel as an income-generating project of the city and the residents. Those caught violating the ordinance will be penalized with P5,000 fine while erring business establishments may face revocation of their business permits. Niña Calleja

Hamburger joint employee shot dead by two men

A HAMBURGER joint employee was gunned down by two armed men as he was manning his stall alone on Friday night in Quezon City. Police ruled out robbery as a motive as no items were taken from the Jorizo Burger and Hotdogs where the victim, Joseph Bacolona, 36, a resident of Novaliches, was shot. Case investigator SPO2 Roldan Dapat of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit said the victim sustained several gunshot wounds and died on the spot. Witnesses told police they saw two men approached the burger joint at around 10:10 p.m. One of them wore a bonnet and face mask while the other served as lookout, the witnesses said. A few minutes later, they heard three successive gunshots. The suspects reportedly calmly walked away into a dark alley. When the witnesses checked the burger joint, they saw Bacolona slumped face up on a chair. Julie M. Aurelio

Brazilian filmmaker to attend  Metro film fest on activism

AWARD-WINNING Brazilian filmmaker and activist Iara Lee will attend Metro Manila’s first film festival on activism and international protest movements, which opened yesterday. Lee’s film, “Cultures of Resistance,” tops the list of films to be screened at the 1st Agitprop International Film Fest, which will run at the College of Mass Communications Media Center, UP Diliman, on July 2 to 4. The name Agitprop was derived from words agitation and propaganda. Other foreign filmmakers who graced the festival’s opening day were Malcolm Guy and Marie Boti of Canada’s Productions Multi-Monde; journalist and filmmaker Mustafa Kilinc of Germany; and Filipino-American filmmaker-activist Eric Tandoc. For the festival schedule, visit agitpropfilmfest.wordpress.com or contact Edge at 0915-7561326. Niña Calleja

Police catch up with suspect in octogenarian’s murder

MANILA policemen caught up with a  construction worker who allegedly stabbed to death an octogenarian after insulting and refusing to lend him money late Sunday night. Police said the suspect, Teofilo Aguilos,  26, admitted to killing his 83-year-old neighbor Gregorio Bondoc  after the elderly man refused to lend him cash and allegedly advised him that he should allow his father to die instead of constantly borrowing money for his medical treatment. Aguilos, who is detained at the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide section holding cell,  claimed that his father recently had a stroke  and before the incident he had been borrowing money from Bondoc. Jeannette I. Andrade