CALOOCAN CITY: Supt. Virgilio Espeja, deputy director for operations of the Northern Police District Office (NPDO), formally assumed yesterday his post as officer-in-charge of the Caloocan City police. Espeja, a veteran officer at the NPDO, replaced Senior Supt. Leo Garra, who is now assigned at the Regional Headquarters Support Group of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan. Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, NPDO director, led NPDO officials in the turnover rites held at the Caloocan City police headquarters. Espejo vowed to contunue the programs initiated by his predecessor, particularly the all-out drive against all forms of criminality. (Willie L. Catapat)

QUEZON CITY: A woman died when she jumped out off a jeepney while it was travelling along Commonwealth Avenue in front of Fairview Wet Market at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police said Flordeliza Cervantes, 38, married, and employee of OJT Health Care living at 176 F. Samson Road, BF Homes, Caloocan City, succumbed to head injuries when she hit the pavement. Cervantes was brought to the Farview Hospital and later transferred to V. Luna Medical Center where she was pronounced dead upon arrival at around 12:30 a.m. Witnesses said the woman suddenly jumped off the moving vehicle upon reaching the Fairview market. Police are conducting an investigation of the incident to determine the culpability of the driver in the incident. (Rico C. Navarro)

MALABON: A still unidentified man allegedly armed with a .45 caliber handgun shot and seriously wounded a fish porter who was sleeping in a tricycle parked in front of the fish market here yesterday morning. Sr. Supt. Moises Guevarra, the police chief, said Emilio Garciano, 40, married, of Leono St., Tanong, Malabon City, suffered multiple bullet wounds and treated at the Tondo Medical Center. Investigation disclosed that Garciano wasin a tricycle at about 6 a.m. when an unidentified man approached him and then shot him. Police said the gunman escaped and was joined by two other men who were also armed with handguns. S/Insp. Jorge Tabayag, chief of the station investigation branch of the Malabon City police station said. Guevarra ordered his men to determine the motive for the shooting and a hunt for the gunmen. (Ed Mahilum)

NAVOTAS: Two persons were stabbed and wounded seriously in a rumble with six unidentified men in Navotas last Monday night. Police said yesterday Dencio Deneros and Erwin Tolot, both 22, suffered stab wounds in the chest and the back. SPO2 Louie Serrano said the victims were on their way home after playing at the mini-carnival at about 7 p.m. when they met the suspects who were also going to the carnival. One of the victims reportedly told the group that the carnival was about to close. His commend angered the group who ganged up against the two. Police said the six men, who appeared to be drunk, then stabbed Deneros and Tolot before fleeing. (Ed Mahilum)

CALOOCAN CITY: Three persons, including a former mayor of a town in Ilocos Norte, were injured yesterday when their vehicle bumped a dump truck in the Caloocan City portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). Traffic investigators identified the victims as former mayor Leonardo Velasco of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte; his 55-year-old wife Rose, and their employe 45-year-old Joseph Sotto. They are now confined at the MCU Hospital due to injuries and contusions in their bodies. Probers said the victim were on board a gray Honda City with license plate WHA-471 bound for Manila and driven by a certain Erickson Casal when the accident occurred along Kilometer 11 near the Eternal Garden in Caloocan City. (Willie L. Catapat)