ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Seven suspected drug traffickers escaped from the detention cell of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in this city at dawn yesterday.
Three of the fugitives were arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Barangay Mampang last week, which resulted in the seizure of shabu worth P146 million.
The jailbreak was discovered at around 2:45 a.m. by PDEA jail guard Norbert Mendola during a routine inspection at the PDEA Zamboanga City Field Office in Barangay Calarian.
Mendola found a hole on the ceiling of the detention fac ility.
The PDEA field office refused to provide additional details so as not to compromise operations it launched in coordination with the local police for the recapture of the escapees.
The fugitives are facing charges of large-scale drug trafficking. They were identified as Kerwin Mohammad Abdila, Amil Khan Mahadali Abubasar, Junjimar Hajili Aiyob, Albadir Mala Ajijul, Muhajiran Romeo Jumlah, Wilson Indanan Sahiban and Jimmy Angeles Sahibol .
MANILA, Philippines — City Vice Mayor Raymond Garcia yesterday assumed the post of acting mayor following the preventive suspension of Mayor Michael Rama by the Office of the Ombudsman.
During the flag-raising ceremony, Garcia called for unity and cooperation among department heads and employees while he is discharging his duties as acting mayor.
“I urge e veryone to join hands and work together for a smooth transition, so things can quickly get back to normal,” Garcia said.
Aside from Rama, the ombudsman also ordered the six-month preventive suspension of seven other city officials for allegedly reassigning and w ithholding the salaries of four city hall employees.
Garcia appointed Kristine Joyce Batucan as city administrator, Liezl Calamba as assessor and Sam Salimbago as chief of staff.
Batucan and Calamba replaced suspended city administrator Collin Rosell and assessor Maria Teresa Rosell.
“Together, let us focus on integrity and efficiency in government service, and adhere to the wisdom that public office is a public trust. Let us focus on service above self and show good results to the people of Cebu,” Garcia said.
He gave assurance that no major changes would be implemented under his leadership.
“I do not want to rock the boat. As I said, I want continuity,” he said.
Garcia ordered an investigation into the alleged harassment of four city hall workers who filed the complaint that resulted in the suspension of Rama.
Garcia gave Batucan and the city hall human resources and development office 48 hours to submit a report about the alleged harassment.
City tax mappers Filomena Atuel and Maria Dio-ngzon as well as assessment operations officers Sybil Ann Ybañez and Chito dela Cerna filed the complaint against Rama and the others last month.
The complainants said Rama transferred them to other departments without any reason.
The ombudsman said the complainants have not received their salaries since July 2023, and were not reinstated despite a decision of the Civil Service Commission that granted their appeal.
MANILA, Philippines — The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) management plans to remove toll barriers in November to help ease traffic congestion, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The mandatory radio frequency identification (RFID) stickers on vehicles, which are used for electronic payment of fees on tollways, are also being looked into, according to NLEX.
Acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes on May 10 met with the NLEX management as they presented “programs and plans to speed up vehicular traffic along the expressway.”
Last month, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president Rogelio Singson revealed plans to fully implement the RFID system, which includes the use of a single RFID system in all tollways and gradual removal of all roadside equipment such as barriers and toll booths.
These plans are part of the company’s goal to fully digitalize toll operations, which could take “at least two years,” he said.
Singson, who was former president Benigno Aquino III’s public works and highways secretary, also sought the MMDA’s help in mandating motorists to use RFID stickers, and imposing fines on violators.
While NLEX enforcers are deputized by the Land Transportation Office to run after traffic violators, no law has been put in place to punish motorists without RFID stickers, Singson said.
MANILA, Philippines — Rain brought by localized thunderstorms hit parts of Metro Manila, providing relief to the public amid the high heat index of 45 degrees Celsius yesterday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said light to moderate to at times heavy rainshowers were recorded in several areas in the National Capital Region.
PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said the easterlies or warm wind in the Pacific Ocean continues to affect the country.
“We expect localized thunderstorms in Metro Manila and a big portion of the country,” Torres said. “Cloudy skies are expected in the northern portion of the Philippines because of the frontal system.”
PAGASA said the heat index in Metro Manila yesterday reached as high as 45 degrees Celsius at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in Pasay. At the Science Garden in Quezon City, the heat index was at 43 degrees Celsius.
The state weather bureau said it has not monitored low-pressure areas or typhoons within and outside the Philippine area of responsibility.
“For tomorrow (Tuesday), we expect the frontal system to go down. It is expected to bring cloudy skies. In Metro Manila, we expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of localized thunderstorms,” Torres said.
Metro Manila temperature will range between 26 and 35 degrees Celsius today.