MAKATI CITY: Fire of still undetermined origin hit a seven-door apartment in Makati City before dawn yesterday. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire – the eighth to hit Metro Manila this Fire Prevention Month. The Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigade said the fire began at 2:15 a.m. yesterday at 4319 General Tinio corner Apolinario Streets, Bangkal, Makati City. Firemen said the blaze was placed under control at 2:45 a.m. The cause of the fire is still being investigated by arson probers. (Joel C. Atencio)

PASIG CITY: A barangay tanod was killed while eight other people, including a security guard, were seriously injured when they were shot by three suspected cell phone snatchers at dawn yesterday. Police said Reynaldo Santos, 53, married at 147 Dr. Sixto Avenue Maybunga, Pasig City succumbed to bullet wounds in his body. Seriously injured were Marcial Tibayan, 32, security guard of Waki Muno Videoke Bar and resident of San Andres, Cainta, Rizal; Romeo Castillo, 52, barangay tanod of Maybunga, Pasig City; Rodrigo Gueta, 28, of Maybunga, Pasig City; Marlon Bantog, 21, of Pinagbuhatan, Pasig; Hermon Peje, 32, Narra St., Pasig City and three others who remained unidentified as of press time. Initial investigation conducted by SPO2 Bernard Cruz, case officer disclosed that the incident occurred at 1:50 a.m. along C. Raymundo corner Legaspi St., Pasig City. Police report showed that three employees of Waki Muno videoke bar were eating hamburger in a hamburger stand near their videoke restaurant when three drunken men approached them, annoyed them and hit them on the head before forcefully snatching the cell phone of one of the victims and escaping. (Madelynne Dominguez)

CALOOCAN CITY: A 21-year-old man, who came to the defense of a friend who was allegedly mauled near his residence, was himself killed yesterday by his pal’s foe. Police said Vincent Morris, of Interior West, 5th Avenue, Caloocan City, was rushed by bystanders to the Tondo Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival by attending doctors. The suspect, Joel Mago, 19, of 134 Brillante Street, 6th Avenue, fled after the incident but was later surrendered by his father to the authorities. Investigation showed that the incident occurred along C-3 Road where the victim’s friend, identified as Aljon Balboa, was mauled by the suspect. When informed of the incident, the victim rushed to the area but instead of being intimidated, the suspect turned his ire on the Morris and stabbed him once in the neck. (Willie L. Catapat)

NAVOTAS: Two persons were shot, one of them seriously, when they tried to resist two still unidentified gunmen who held up a Navotas-bound jeepney along R-10, Northbay Boulevard, Navotas last Monday afternoon. Police Officer 3 Ric Ablan III said Alejandro de Lima, 50, employee of the Irma fishing Corp. and resident of Cavite, was shot in the chest while Antonio de Pura, 28, single of Block 5, Lot 3, NBBS was shot in the body. (Ed Mahilum)

QUEZON CITY: Councilor Resty B. Malangen – acting on the request of tricycle operators and drivers plying within the city – has filed a measure urging owners of private emission testing centers to reduce their service fees from P300 to P200. The members and officers of the various Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations said the P300 service fee "is a burden on our part on the account of the recent increase in the price of oil, petroleum products, spare parts and other basic commodities." Malangen said the P100 reduction would surely help the poor TODA members augment their meager income to sustain the financial needs of their families. Under the Land Transportation Office law, private and public motor vehicles are required to undergo smoke emission tests as a prerequisite for registration purposes. (Sel A. Baysa)