Metrobriefs

Taguig mayor lauds city cops for drug operation

TAGUIG Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano has lauded the police for seizing  two kilos of high grade cocaine from an American and his two Filipino cohorts last week. “This anti-illegal drug operation of [the police] has definitely saved so many innocent lives. We in Taguig have waged an all-out war against illegal drugs,” Cayetano said in a statement. At the same time, she pledged the city government’s full support for the crackdown on drugs in Taguig as she reorganized the  Anti-Drug Abuse Council to deal with the problem in the city. An initial fund of P3.5 million was set aside for the council’s operations in addition to P10 million for the construction of a rehabilitation center for drug addicts. “We want to give another chance and hope for a new life for drug users and dependents that’s why it is our primary concern to build our own rehabilitation center,” Cayetano said. “Instead of condemning them, the city government of Taguig shall provide them with a place wherein they can truly reform themselves and emerge as a better person,” she added. Last week, the police arrested three men at a mall parking lot and seized from American Jose Vastine two kilos of what the police said were high grade cocaine. Miko Morelos

Lending firm worker shot dead in front of wife

AN employee of a lending company was shot and killed in front of his wife by two armed men on a motorcycle in Quezon City on Monday evening, a police report said. Insp. Elmer Monsalve, Quezon City Police District homicide section head, identified the victim as Jackson Fernando, 31, a supervisor for Cash Line Lending Corp. and a resident of Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City. He said that the victim was shot in the face several times and died on the spot. Monsalve said they had yet to determine the motive for the killing. A police report showed that the victim was standing in front of a house at Block 1 Lot 8 Pilot Drive in Commonwealth, Quezon City at around 9:30 p.m. when two men on a motorcycle approached him and shot him. The victim’s wife, Rochelle, told the police that the motorcycle did not bear any license plate. She described both men as dark-skinned and sporting long hair. They were also dressed in camouflage jackets and jeans. Nancy C. Carvajal