MetroBriefs: Not far from Senate compound, a sack of horrors

Not far from Senate compound, a sack of horrors

A sack found dumped on Wednesday morning near the Senate compound in Pasay City revealed grisly contents: A pair of dismembered arms and legs.

Chief Insp. Rolando Baula, chief of the Station Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Pasay police, said Meniano Samarro, a street vendor, came upon the white sack containing the body parts around 5:30 a.m. on a traffic median on Jose Diokno Avenue, about 200 meters from the Senate compound gate.

Senate security guards were the first to be alerted about Samarro’s find. Radio reports described the limbs to be that of a male, but Baula said the fingerprints of the still-unidentified victim were taken to see if they have a match in the police database.

Investigators have also asked for video clips from security cameras along Diokno Avenue for possible clues leading to the perpetrators. Maricar B. Brizuela

25 more towing crewmen positive for drug use

Twenty-five men working for towing companies accredited by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have tested positive for drug use, according to an agency official.

MMDA towing group head Victor Nuñez said a total of 377 towing personnel from 35 companies underwent tests conducted over the weekend.

“Six tested positive on July 4, then 19 the following day,” Nuñez told reporters on Wednesday. Those who failed the test will be banned from working in any towing company accredited by the MMDA, which has also confiscated their employment ID cards.

The drug test, along with a refresher seminar for towing personnel, was administered after a Facebook post two weeks ago recounted an alleged attempt by a team from Arcson Towing Services to extort money from a car owner in Quezon City.

In a series of tests conducted by the MMDA in July 2015 and in January this year, a total of 78 towing personnel tested positive for drugs.

Meanwhile, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head Cris Saruca pointed out that tow trucks are also required to undergo emission tests and will soon be required to have Global Positioning System (GPS) devices for easier tracking.  Maricar B. Brizuela

Munti cops catch ‘Erap,’ sis in  ‘shabu’ session

A MAN who went by a famous nickname—and may now get the goat of the Manila mayor from whom he got it—was arrested together with his sister allegedly while in the middle of a “shabu” session in Muntinlupa City early Wednesday morning.

The police said 45-year-old Joseph Espeleta, who is also known in his neighborhood as “Erap,” and his 21-year-old sister Christelle were caught taking shabu around 4 a.m. in an alley in Purok IV, Alabang.

“When the police arrived, the two were in the dark, standing in a corner and taking drugs. When they saw the uniformed men they were very surprised,” said PO3 Psylo Jimenez, the investigator who booked the siblings.

Erap and Christelle tried to run but were cornered by the police, who seized two plastic sachets of the drug from the duo. Jimenez said the letters “JE”—apparently the male Espeleta’s initials—were written on the packets.

A background check showed that he was already arrested twice for possession of illegal drugs, in January and October 2015, Jimenez said. The siblings face charges for that same offense in the city prosecutor’s office.   Kristine Felisse Mangunay and Carizza Ibañez