Crime in Parañaque City is involving Chinese nationals is back in the spotlight as local police officers arrested four Chinese persons for the alleged kidnapping of a fellow compatriot, the Manila Bulletin reported. The arrest happened in Barangay Tambo, and the police found guns and illegal drugs.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
Four Chinese nationals were arrested by patrolling policemen allegedly after kidnapping their fellow citizen in Parañaque City Sunday, July 24.
Col. Maximo Sebastian, Paranaque City police chief, identified the suspects Hu Tang, 30; Jiang Zhengxing, 29; Liu Lu, 30; and Gud Hui,36.
Sebastian said the suspects were arrested around 11:45 p.m. on Macapagal Ave. corner Bradco Ave. in Barangay Tambo.
The city police chief said members of Parañaque Police Sub-Station 2 were conducting patrol when ASEANA security guards sought their help after witnessing a kidnapping incident.
The cops together with the security guards blocked the metallic gray Peugot Sedan of the suspects and rescued the victim identified as Zhijie Huang, 32.
The city police chief said the lawmen found inside the car of the suspects one heat-sealed plastic sachet containing shabu, two .9mm pistols, one long airsoft gun, and drug paraphernalia.
The above report ended stating that the suspects will be charged for kidnapping and possession of illegal drugs.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are living in Parañaque City, what is your reaction to this report? Do you think that Parañaque will remain a hot spot for criminal activities involving Chinese nationals? Do you believe that the Chinese in Parañaque have easy access to guns and illegal drugs? Are there a lot of Chinese nationals occupying houses in your local community right now?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Parañaque is back in the drugs-related crime news as three people were arrested by local police officers in Barangay San Dionisio as a result of a drug buy-bust operation, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Over P300,000 worth of illegal drugs was confiscated.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
Three alleged drug peddlers were arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by members of the Parañaque Police Station’s Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) in coordination with Police Sub-Station 2 on Sunday, July 24.
Col. Maximo Sebastian, city police chief, identified the suspects as Elmer Dizcaya, 42; Myleen Mendoza, 42; and Joseph Dalimit, 46.
Sebastian said the suspects were arrested around 9:20 a.m. in Pitonio Extension, Lupang Pangarap, Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City during a buy-bust operation conducted by members of the SDEU and Sub-Station 2
The city police chief said confiscated from the suspects were 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000 placed in ten plastic sachets, two P1,000 bills used as the buy-bust money, and one blue coin purse.
The above report ended stating that the suspects will be charged for illegal possession of drugs while the confiscated substances will be analyzed.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are living in Parañaque City, what is your reaction to this report? Do you think that Parañaque will remain a hot spot for illegal drugs and buy-bust operations over the next few years? What do you think should be done by the City Government and the barangays in order to make Parañaque a drug-free city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
According to a GMA Network news report, Parañaque City police officers arrested three people for allegedly violating the implemented ban of guns in relation to the State of the Nation Address (SONA). The notable thing here is that the apprehension happened outside of Parañaque City.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA Network news report. Some parts in boldface…
Parañaque City cops arrested three people on Monday for violation of the ongoing six-day gun ban for the safety of the first State of the Nation Address of President Bongbong Marcos.
Unang Balita reported on Monday — SONA Day – that authorities acting on a tip tailed and cornered the suspects on Ongpin Street in Binondo, Manila.
Police said the suspects immediately surrendered.
An initial police investigation indicates the suspects were carrying service firearms as they were supposedly private security agents of a company.
Authorities said the three will face complaints for violating the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.
According to the report, the suspects have refused to give any further statement.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this latest news development? Could there be gun smuggling or a lot of loose firearms (unregistered weapons) within the City of Parañaque that could be connected to this recent development?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
If you are selling products online and if you value your personal safety as well as your own business, you might want to refrain from meeting your customers in person (note: meet-ups) as a group of armed helmet-wearing robbers victimized an online seller at its business venue before getting arrested by the police, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
Police officers in Pasig City arrested on weekend five armed robbers who were preying on online sellers across eastern Metro Manila.
According to Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, authorities nabbed James Sy Natividad and three others after their leader, Jonard Bernardio, revealed their whereabouts.
Caught on CCTV, the suspects were seen breaking into a store and beating sales agents before stealing money and valuable items. One of the suspects was also seen pointing a gun at the victim.
Police Lieutenant Jaylord Estillore, chief of Station Investigation and Detective Management of Pasig Police, said the armed robbers were dubbed “Jonard Bernarbio Robbery-Holdup Group.”
“Mag-order online and then pagdating doon sa meet-up area doon nila bibiktimahin yung kanilang mga target,” Estillore said.
(They will order online and then when they arrive at the meet-up area, they will prey on their victims.)
Police Lieutenant Resel Guevearra, spokesperson of Pasig Police, reminded the public to be cautious with their transactions.
“I-validate po natin ang ating mga ka-transaction as much as possible doon tayo makipagtransact sa maraming tao,” Guevearra said.
(Let’s validate who we transact with. As much as possible, we should have transact in crowded places.)
Now here is the related news video about the same story. Watch the video and pay close attention…
As you can see in the above news excerpt and video, doing a “meet-up” even in a business venue with CCTV cameras recording is still risky to do. The suspects were seen wearing helmets which means they anticipated the place had CCTV cameras and knew how to hide their faces. It is indeed a good thing not only for the victims but also for the city that the police were able to stop and arrest them.
As I am writing this, it remains to be seen if this type of crime could have happened around the nation while remaining unreported.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this new development? Do you think that online sellers with business venues should hire security guards to prevent the armed robbers (among those who ordered online) from taking over? When you sell online, do you insist on meeting your customers personally or do you prefer sending the products to them via courier? What is the one thing about customer meet-ups do you like the most when selling online?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Are you a victim of an investment scam? Recently in the City of Parañaque, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested an investment scam suspect who allegedly deceived someone into investing over one million Pesos into a poultry business that failed to materialize, the Manila Bulletin reported.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
A man who allegedly duped a person to invest P1.5 million in a poultry business that did not materialize has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Paranaque City.
In a statement, the NBI identified the suspect as John D. Bombita who was arrested last July 4 by agents of the NBI’s Bulacan District Office (NBI-BULDO) at a coffee shop. Seized from Bombita was the P200,000 entrapment money he received from his victim.
“Subject Bombita was presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for estafa under the Revised Penal Code,” the NBI said
It said the complainant met Bombita in March 2020 when an offer was made to invest P1.5 million in a poultry farm to be set up in Talugtug, Nueva Ecija. The suspect introduced to the complainant Ramil Bautista, the alleged project manager.
The complainant, the NBI said, was assured that the poultry business would be operational in six months after the payment of P1.5 million to Bombita. The complainant paid the full amount in tranches, it said.
“Seven months later, Subject Bombita called an emergency meeting with the investors and introduced a certain Ulysses F. Barcial as the new person in charge of the project because Ramil Bautista took away the money intended for the Poultry project and assured the investors that the Poultry project will move forward. On May 22, 2021, a ground breaking ceremony was conducted to show that the construction of the poultry will still push through,” the NBI said.
“Sometime in April 2022, Subject Bombita called the complainant and asked for P100,000 for the payment of building permit of the three (3) Poultry Vent Tunnel. The complainant told the subjects that he can only pay P50,000. After a month, the complainant was informed that the payment for the building permit was increased to P200,000. The complainant was threatened that if he failed to pay the said amount his investment of P1.5 million will be forfeited,” it said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this latest news development? Has anyone out there tried to convince you to pour a lot of their money into a project or venture that lacked credibility?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
The wave of crime involving Chinese nationals in Metro Manila just would not ease. Thanks to the efforts of the police force of Parañaque, however, a Chinese national was arrested for acts of kidnapping, robbery and extortion, according the a recent Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
A Chinese national who allegedly kidnapped his fellow citizen and demanded P1,050,000 for the victim’s release was arrested during a follow-up operation conducted by members of the Investigation and Detective and Management Unit (IDMU) of the Parañaque City Police on Friday, July 1.
Col. Maximo Sebastian, city police chief, identified the suspect as Liu Jinkai, 29.
Sebastian said the suspect was nabbed on Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City and is now detained at the Parañaque City Police custodial facility. He was charged with kidnapping and robbery-extortion.
The city police chief said that one Fe Melana, 25, appeared at IDMU and reported that she received a telephone call on Wednesday (June 28) from her live-in partner, victim Ji Ming, asking for her help as he was kidnapped at a casino.
Melena told police that Ji Ming informed her that the suspects were demanding P1,050,000 for his release.
She claimed that the suspects instructed her to meet them at Bonifacio Global City, but later told her to proceed to the casino and bring the ransom money.
The above report ended stating that the place of meeting was changed to a Dampa restaurant along Macapagal Avenue. The arrest eventually happened there.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are living in Parañaque City, what is your reaction to this report? Are you concerned that Chinese nationals spending time in your city could be doing serious criminal acts? Do you believe that something as serious as the incident in Barangay BF Homes could happen soon in your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
In the city of Las Piñas, police officers arrested two women who operated as drug couriers and seized from them were illegal substances estimated to be worth P2 million, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Members of the Las Piñas Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) seized P2,040,000 worth of shabu from two alleged female drug couriers on Friday, July 1.
Col. Jaime Santos, city police chief, identified the suspect as Charmaine Ann Escalan, 28, and Airene Ramos, 26.
Santos said the suspects are now detained at the police custodial facility and were charged with illegal possession of drugs.
He said the suspects were arrested around 9:30 p.m. at Zapote River Drive in Barangay Zapote, Las Piñas.
Santos said members of the SDEU launched the operation against the suspects after receiving a telephone call about a supposed drug transaction at Zapote River Drive.
Santos said the operatives confiscated from the suspects three large knot-tied transparent plastic bags containing shabu placed in a maroon shoulder bag.
The above story ended stating that the seized illegal drugs were brought to the Southern Police District (SPD) for chemical analysis.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, how do you feel about this recent development? Do you believe that the distribution of illegal drugs are a serious problem in your city? How do drug couriers affect your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
In the City of Las Piñas, two armed men – aged 22 and 19 – were apprehended by the local police for robbing an electric bike (e-bike) store, the Manila Bulletin reported. Quite notably, the suspects were caught in the act carrying a vault/safe.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Two suspects who robbed an e-bike store were arrested by the Las Piñas police’s Talon Sub-Station on Monday, June 27.
Police identified the suspects as Marvin Torion, 22, and his younger brother Ricky, 19, both residents of Las Piñas City. The suspects are now detained at the Las Piñas police custodial facility and were charged with robbery and illegal possession of deadly weapon.
Col. Jaime Santos, city police chief, said the incident happened around 2:35 a.m. at Ruipjey E-Bikes located along Alabang-Zapote Road in Barangay Talon Uno
Santos said members of the Talon Sub-Station received a telephone call from Abdul Rashid Malang, a member of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), who said he saw the suspects enter the e-bike store.
Personnel from the Talon Sib-Station immediately responded and proceeded to the store and caught the suspects carrying a vault containing P108,520 in cash.
The above report ended stating that the police recovered from the suspects a knife, a screw driver and a claw bar.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this recent development? Is robbery considered a big problem there in your city? If you are managing a store, are you worried that people would try to rob your business?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s and explore a part of the Valiant Comics shared universe through the Harbinger monthly series.
In my previous retro review, the primary characters (Peter/Sting, Kris, Faith/Zephyr, Charlene/Flamingo and John/Torque) composed of mainly young adults with different abilities were gradually introduced and together they became targets of the mysterious private organization referred to as Harbinger (led by Japanese tycoon Toyo Harada). Harbinger has vested interests in people with paranormal abilities. In order to survive, Peter and his so-called team must set aside differences and work together while making the most out of their respective abilities.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Harbinger #2, published in 1992 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Jim Shooter and drawn by David Lapham.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins at 12:03 AM of June 6, 1991. Peter, Faith, Flamingo and Torque bring their wounded teammate Kris into a hospital for immediate treatment. Upset with the hospital rules on admittance of patients, Peter uses some of his power to lift a few staffers off the floor while demanding that they treat Kris immediately. Their group was told that because they are all minors, parental consent is needed. Gunshot wounds, which Kris has, constitute reporting to the police.
Sting and his companions eventually brought Kris to a hospital bed. As he realized it is pointless to use his power on a doctor (Heyward) to force him to treat Kris, Sting uses his power to remove the two bullets out of her wounds which took a heavy toll on him. The doctor then decides to properly treat Kris.
By 4:49 AM, Kris’ condition has stabilized and the group of Sting decide to leave with their recovering companion with them. As soon as they exited the hospital, the group suddenly gets attacked by snipers…
Quality
Sting and his teammates on a risky mission.
As the heavy build-up in the first issue has been established, this comic book’s story executed some pay-off while gradually doing some new build-up of the series’ concept with expository dialogue as creative tools. For one thing, the story of Sting and his companions turned wild as the stakes have been raised further as they have become wanted people and they don’t have much resources left for survival. Next, the story suddenly created an X-Men vibe to me when the young adults take refuge inside a large and nice home of a sympathetic medical doctor they encountered earlier in the hospital.
When it comes to character development, the reluctant leader Sting got the most amount of characterization and along the way, you will see how he shifts his attention and concern to Faith, Flamingo and Torque more as Kris spent some time out of action. At this stage, Sting gradually changed from the reluctant powerful teenager into someone cares for others as they share the same desire to survive and lift themselves up. A clear 2nd to Sting on characterization is Faith who is the geek and pop culture enthusiast who tries her best to live up to the harshness of the reality they group is facing.
While Sting and his team are sympathetic to look at being targets of the dangerous organization Harbinger (note: they and their leader make their first appearances here), you will realize that they also became criminals with their acts of break-ins, fraud and robbery. These criminals act made those in issue #1 look like rehearsals. Since these powered young adults are on the run and struggling to survive, disregarding the law becomes natural for them. As such, the boundaries between right and wrong clearly got blurred not only with Sting’s team but also with Harbinger and its troops.
When it comes to the first appearances of Toyo Harada and his organization Harbinger in the pages of this comic book, I can say without spoilers that they are worth seeing and they further added depth into this comic book’s concept deep within the Valiant comic book universe.
Conclusion
The young adults presence inside a very large and nice home reminds me of the X-Men living inside Xavier’s home.
I can say out loud that Harbinger #2 (1992) is indeed very compelling to read as the stakes have been raised, the lead characters were developed nicely and the first appearance of Harbinger as the antagonistic force all paid-off nicely to the build-up of the first issue. As far as entertainment is concerned, the reading experience is more intriguing mainly due to the strong writing by Jim Shooter and this means that the superhero spectacle was secondary but in a good way. As mentioned earlier, the border between right and wrong got blurred and I can say the same thing about Harbinger and Sting’s group. This eventually will compel you to question if Sting and his companions could still be morally acceptable or not at all as their criminal acts are undeniable. Would you be sympathizing with them? Would you think they are as bad as Harbinger? Could Sting and his team actually pose a greater danger to society than Harbinger itself? Don’t you think Sting and his companions are looking like Black Lives Matter (BLM) social terrorists? This comic book really has to be read.
Overall, Harbinger #2 (1992) is highly recommended!
Before Microsoft’s megaton acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard, Team Xbox organized its very own Xbox Games Showcase in mid-2020 and one of the announced games back then was As Dusk Falls which I found intriguing and artistic at the same time. The game, which is being developed by London-based Interior/Night in cooperation with Xbox Game Studios Publishing, resurfaced at last during the recent Xbox-Bethesda Games Showcase and here are the hot news…As Dusk Falls will be released on July 19, 2022 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC, Steam, and will be available also via Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass! Watch the official release date announcement video below…
For the newcomers reading this, the game is an interactive drama that has a very stylized visual design. To understand As Dusk Falls better, posted below is an excerpt from the official article published at Xbox.com written by Kelly Lombardi. Some parts in boldface…
As Dusk Falls has been eight years in the making for CEO and Creative Director at Interior/Night Caroline Marchal. Her goal was to create a deep interactive experience for all levels of players, something meant to be shared with loved ones. Inspired by prestige TV shows, Interior/Night’s debut game is an uncompromising tale of family, resilience, and sacrifice, coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, and with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on July 19.
This cinematic story is brought to life by the performance of actors that are digitally rendered into a beautiful art style, creating a unique experience that plays like a motion graphic novel.
In As Dusk Falls you’ll have agency over the lives of relatable, far from perfect human beings, inviting you to empathize with their real-life struggles and aspirations. Starting in 1998 with a robbery-gone-wrong in small town Arizona, the choices you make have a powerful impact on the characters’ lives in this decades-spanning story told across two intense books:
Sacrifice vs Survival: Can you break free from your family’s toxic influence? What will you sacrifice for the ones you love? Can you overcome your past? Your decisions will shape the characters’ fates.
Interwoven Destinies: Follow two families in their struggle to survive, protect, and endure through challenges rooted in the previous generations’ mistakes.
Experience Together: Reveal insights about yourself and those you play with as you discover the underlying values of your decisions in cooperative gameplay with up to 8 players at a time, locally or online (or a mix). The As Dusk Falls companion app makes making choices in game easy, just use your phone or tablet to vote with or against your friends.
Replay the story again and again to uncover vastly different outcomes for the characters and explore hidden nuances behind every decision. Will your characters survive unscathed? What kind of people will they ultimately become?
The above article ended stating that As Dusk Falls will also be made available on mobile phones, tablets and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
A law enforcer in a scene.
Considering the obvious lack of high-profile Xbox-exclusive games for the 2nd half of 2022, As Dusk Falls is definitely on my list of games to play on my Xbox Series X with the benefit of my Xbox Game Pass subscription. As such, its July 19, 2022 release date is good news as it has been two years since the game was first announced. This is an Xbox-exclusive of a very different kind!
This screenshot from the game shows how choices are presented on-screen.
In terms of game design, the Xbox-exclusive As Dusk Falls is highly unusual and also intriguing to look at. I really am interested to play it and witness how the actors will perform and bring their characters to life on-screen. The mentioned decision/choice making as a gameplay function alone interests me as I used to read Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) pocket books long ago. How high the quality and fun factor As Dusk Falls is a question mark right now but the wait for it will end very soon.
Looks like these two characters are up to something. As Dusk Falls will be released on the Xbox ecosystem.
If you are the type of gamer who loves narrative adventures, decision-making interactivity or if you simply want a really new form of video game that stands out among the rest, watch out for As Dusk Falls on the Xbox ecosystem.
Author Carlo Carrasco 