News Briefs

Caloocan transport leader shot dead

A jeepney group leader in Caloocan City was shot dead by three unknown assailants in Malabon City on Friday. Jerry Adolfo, 52, was chair of the Sangandaan-Panghulo-Polo Jeepney Operators and Drivers’ Association (SPPJODA). He stopped briefly while driving his jeepney along M.H. Del Pilar Street when he was shot in the head by a gunman while two other suspects served as lookouts. The victim was the fifth SPPJODA leader to be shot dead, said Jerry’s brother, Tony.—KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING

Transport groups eye 4th strike

Militant transport group Piston will again be mounting another strike against the government’s jeepney modernization program. George San Mateo, Piston’s national president, said they would continue to oppose the modernization program until the government draws up a “socially just” plan for jeepney drivers. He said tomorrow’s strike would cover Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal. San Mateo lamented that the government banks had only set aside around P3 billion for the credit facility component of the modernization program, but that was only good for around 2,000 drivers.—JOVIC YEE

Bid to postpone polls anew just ‘false hope’

BACOLOD CITY—Bills passed by the House of Representatives postponing the May 14 village and youth council elections were only giving holdover officials “false hopes” because the Senate would not agree to a third postponement of the elections, Sen. Cynthia Villar said. Even if the House passed several bills before the congressional break, Villar reiterated “the country has a bicameral legislative system” and both chambers should agree on a new law, Sen. Risa Hontiveros shared Villar’s view. “We are still a bicameral legislature,” she said. “The last time I looked, the Senate has not been abolished,” Hontiveros added.—CARLA P. GOMEZ

DILG urges more women to run for village posts

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged women to step up to the challenge of leadership and seek an elective position in the coming barangay elections. DILG officer in charge Eduardo Año lamented there was usually only one woman in five candidates for barangay positions. “This is the time for change and I believe that women can contribute much to achieve real change,” Año said.—JEANNETE I. ANDRADE

DND tells ‘lumad’: No need to worry about terror tag

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana assured tribal folk, called “lumad,” of government protection as long as they do not join the New People’s Army (NPA). Lorenzana said lumad should not be concerned if the court declared the Communist Party of the Philippines and NPA, its military arm, as terrorist groups because lumad communities would not be targeted. “That is not true at all,” said Lorenzana. “It will only apply to their leaders, regular fighters and supporters.”—JEANETTE I. ANDRADE

Lawmakers say Du30 push to steer BBL through Congress

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE—Lawmakers holding public consultations for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) expressed optimism that President Duterte’s support would help steer the proposed measure through Congress. Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali, chair of the House peace, reconciliation and unity committee, said legislators had wrapped up BBL consultations in the Lanao provinces on Friday. She said the President wanted the proposed measure passed in time for his state of the nation address in July.—JIGGER JERUSALEM

Deadly Friday in QC: 4 dead in separate gun attacks

Four people were killed in separate gun attacks in Quezon City that also left two people wounded, including a 3-year-old boy, on Friday night. In the village of Commonwealth, two men and a woman were shot dead in a house. Some four hours later, an alleged intruder was killed in a clash with police inside a hospital compound in Project 4.—JHESSET O. ENANO

Aguirre: Prosecutors should also help gather evidence

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II backed proposals pending in Congress allowing public prosecutors to help policemen investigate and gather evidence in a crime.—DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN