IN BRIEF

PNP: Manhunt for Bantag will continue

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it will continue the manhunt to capture former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and his former deputy Ricardo Zulueta.

“This is our assurance that even though one of his cases was archived, it would not be a reason for us to stop the manhunt operation.” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo told reporters in an interview.

The PNP spokesperson also said that the authorities have been receiving reliable and credible information regarding the possible whereabouts of Bantag.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 archived the case against the two in connection with the killing of New Bilibid Prison inmate Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in broadcaster Percy Lapid’s slay noted also that the archived case is subject to revival. Vince Lopez

Cops tracking down suspects in journo’s shooting

AUTHORITIES are tracking down five “persons of interest” behind the shooting incident that wounded photojournalist Joshua Abiad, six of his relatives, and a bystander in Quezon City last week.

Speaking to reporters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Colonel. Jean Fajardo said this is based on the investigation of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD). She declined to give more details while follow-up operations are ongoing.

The PNP official also said that the suspects are members of a professional gun-for-hire group. Fajardo said the license plate used by the suspects for their getaway vehicle in the crime belongs to another vehicle, noting that they have traced the true owner of the plate used.

Vince Lopez

PDEA hauls P21.72b in illegal drugs

WORKING with other agencies, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that it was able to seize P21.72 billion worth of illegal drugs since the start of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

During the agency’s 21st anniversary celebration at the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City, director general Moro Virgilio Lazo announced their accomplishments from July 1, 2022, until April 30, 2023

The latest PDEA data showed 44,866 drug personalities, including 3,169 hightarget values, were arrested during the same period.

There were at least 32,225 antiillegal drugs operations, while authorities had dismantled 527 drug dens and a clandestine shabu laboratory.

Some 27,206 villages out of 42,045 barangays were declared drug-cleared as of April 30, and that 8,332 villages are still drug-affected. Rio N. Araja and procurement activities and poor strategies in the monitoring and implementation of the projects and programs.

Only 5 out of the 33 MMDA programs were infrastructure projects, and 28 involved consultancy services and procurement of goods and other services, the COA reported.

The COA said 14 other projects and programs under the Metro Manila Flood Management Project Phase 1 (MMFMP Phase 1) were already completed as of the end of 2022.

“The agency must expedite the implementation of programs and projects as this will also improve the quality of services rendered to the public,” it noted.

According to the MMDA reasoned out, its Project Management Office prioritized remaining procurement items and utilized continuing funds from previous years before their expiration.

The report cited that the MMDA incurred P27.426 million commitment fees due to unwithdrawn balance of loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.