MANILA, Philippines— The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy 50 police officers in civilian clothes to ensure security during the promulgation of the Maguindanao Massacre case on December 19, 2019.

This is apart from the more than the 200 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers and the Civil Disturbance Management Unit that have been initially tasked by the NCRPO to guard the security in the Metropolis.

According to NCRPO acting director PBGen. Debold Sinas, they will implement a lockdown inside the Camp Bagong Diwa-Taguig so that no untoward incident will slip through them during the promulgation.

 “They already approved na mag lock down kami ibig sabihin yung ibang jail na nandoon di ba 6 jails ang nandoon pero lahat sila hindi na mag aaccept ng bisita on the 18th and the 19^th,” Sinas said.

He added that they will not let any protest rallies be staged inside and outside the camp as this will stall traffic flow.

Sinas also assured that the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will strictly guard the security of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, as well as, the prosecutors.

“Ngayon pa lang sini secure na natin ang judge. After the promulgation continue pa rin yung security natin sa kanya until such time na she will feel normal. Including yung prosecutor,” he added.

To date, authorities have yet to receive any threat against Reyes, the prosecutors, and even in the venue where the promulgation will take place. — (from the report of Lea Ylagan) /mbmf

The Quezon City government approved an ordinance that will ban single-use plastic effective January 1, 2020.

According to the Quezon City government single-use plastics and other disposable materials will no longer be allowed in establishments in Quezon City such as in hotels, restaurants and other business establishments.

Chariman of the Committee on Parks and Environment in Quezon City, Hon. Dorothy Delarmente said hotels will no longer be allowed to distribute shampoo and soaps inside plastic sachets and single-use containers.

“Regardless how it was made or manufactured for as long as its purpose for single-use it is covered by the ordinance,” she said.

Establishments that will violate the said ordinance will face the following penalties:

1st Offense P1,000 Penalty
2nd Offense P3,000 Penalty
3rd Offense P5,000 Penalty + Revocation of Business Permit and Closure Order

Meanwhile, Malacañang hopes that other local governments will follow Quezon City’s ordinance on the single-use plastic ban.

“I suppose all local government would follow suit, since the president has already made a stand on that,” according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.—AAC (with reports from Dante Amento and Rosalie Coz)

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has arrested three individuals suspected of selling dried marijuana leaves on Thursday night.

Police identified the suspects as John Paulo Flores, Ryan Erpelo and Kees Van Paul Lorenzo.

The QCPD said the operation was conducted after they received information that the three suspects were selling illegal drugs on social media.

After validating the report, a buy-bust operation was launched against the suspects along Susana Road in Barangay Novaliches Proper in Novaliches at past 8 p.m.

Police seized from the suspects two bricks and dried marijuana leaves worth P240,000.

A follow-up operation on Friday yielded 12 kilos of marijuana leaves worth P1.4 million inside a vehicle along Maximo Street in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Novaliches after one of the suspects confessed to probers and surrendered the remaining stocks at his house.

“Gusto niya na wala ng madamay… So ninais na niyang i-surrender ‘yung mga natitira na items sa kaniyang possession,” QCPD station 10 commander Lt. Col. Louise Benjie Tremor said.

Police said the confiscated illegal drugs were turned over to the QCPD Crime Laboratory Office.

The suspects will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Asher Cadapan Jr.)