Metrobriefs

Ban on colored lights in Marikina markets reiterated

In preparation for the holiday season, the Marikina City government has reiterated its ban on the use of colored lights in wet markets to enable buyers to better distinguish fresh goods from those that are not. The move is in compliance with an existing ordinance, “The Marikina Veterinary Code of 2007,” which prohibits vendors from using “deceiving colored lamps/lights” because these make meat, fish, fruits and vegetables look like they were recently slaughtered, caught or harvested.

According to Manuel Carlos, head of the City Veterinary Office (CVO), clear white lights should be used to allow consumers to correctly determine the freshness of goods. He added that so far, the ban was being enforced in all of the city wet markets inspected by their personnel as part of the CVO’s effort to determine that all food sold in these establishments are safe to eat. Those caught violating the ordinance are fined P1,000. The lights will also be seized.

Meanwhile, local officials urged residents to use energy-efficient lights in their houses or business offices. This, according to a statement from the Marikina, Public Information Office, will serve as the city’s contribution to the campaign for “efficient utilization and conservation of energy.”—Kristine Felisse Mangunay

Arrested man ends up dead in Quezon City

A man who was arrested on Friday night for hitting a coworker was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on Sunday morning. Based on the complaint of Rosemary Apejas, the body of her husband, Jomar, was found beside a creek just behind a school in Barangay (village) Katipunan, Quezon City. She told the police that her husband, a worker of KV cupcake factory located at Holy Cross, Novaliches, was arrested by barangay watchmen for punching a coworker. He was placed in the custody of policemen from the Quezon City Police District Station 4 but when she visited him, she was told that he had been taken to a hospital for a routine medical check. On Sunday, two policemen went to her house, looking for him, saying that he had escaped from their custody.—Nancy C. Carvajal