BFP warns Bacoleños
against bogus inspector

The Bacolod City Bureau of Fire Protection issued a warning yesterday against a man, who introduces himself as a fire inspector to business establishment owners and dupes them by taking their money in exchange for fire extinguishers.

Chief Insp. Bartolome Biliran, Bacolod City fire marshal, said that, so far, they have received three complaints against the bogus BFP member, who is also using the names of legitimate fire inspectors.

Biliran said that, according to the reports they gathered, the suspect would inspect business establishments, check the fire extinguishers and then tell the owner that it is already expired and must be replaced immediately.

The suspect would then offer to deliver the fire extinguisher in exchange for P2,500, but once he receives the money, he no longer shows up, Biliran said.

The suspect is described to be in his late 30s, about 5 feet and 4 inches tall, and has a dark complexion.

Biliran said legitimate fire inspectors wear dark blue or black general office attire, carry identification cards and an inspection order signed by him.

He said the order contains the name of the establishment to be inspected, the name of the inspector, the purpose and the duration of the inspection.

Those who have been victimized by the suspect, or doubtful of the identity of the fire inspector who approaches them, must report the incident to the nearest police station or to the BFP through hotline number 434-5022 or 434-5023.*APN

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PNP retirees
pension on ATM

Police retirees in Negros Occidental will get their monthly pensions through the Automated Teller Machine, starting this month, after PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome approved their crediting and payment of those with opened accounts at the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Senior Insp. Sally Manuel, officer-in-charge of the police Regional Public Information Office, yesterday said the payment will be their gross pension without deductions from any lending institution.

Manuel said the move is expected to reduce the number of PNP pensioners queuing at the LBP branches and at the Regional Finance Service offices every pay day.

All pensioners with ATM cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) mailer can withdraw their pension from any Land Bank of the Philippines branch nationwide.

However, pensioners enrolled, but were not able to get their ATM card and PIN mailer, can withdraw their pension from the LBP where they enrolled through an over-the-counter scheme, Manuel said.*GPB

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Radioman nabbed
for shabu: PDEA

Elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Regional Special Enforcement Team and the Sorsogon PDEA Provincial office arrested a radio block-timer in Masbate City for possession of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, in Pilar, Sorsogon, at about 3 a.m. yesterday.

The team, led by PDEA 5 Bicol director Archie Alzaga Grande, and Sorsogon PDEA provincial chief Lirio Ilao, arrested Felicito Riva Lazaro, 61, of Nursery Street, Masbate City.

The suspect was arrested when he was about to board a motorized banca bound for Aroroy, Masbate. Seized from him was a plastic sachet containing five grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of P30,000, the PDEA said.

Lazaro is the program host of the daily public affairs “Bareta at Opinion” over radio station DyME in Masbate City. PDEA officials said the suspect is considered a major supplier of shabu in Masbate City and Aroroy.

An informant alerted the PDEA operatives about the suspect’s arrival from Manila with a fresh supply of the illegal drugs.*PNA

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