Saturday, December 08, 2007 (Philippines)

Not the usual pershing cap but Santa hats this Christmas season for beat patrol police. Region police chief Ronald Roderos (above) briefs police who will be seen on Cebu City streets in their Christmas getup and (left) doles out candies in a ceremonial gift-giving. To kick off the project, 32 beat cops carried Christmas bags loaded with candies which they distributed among children in slum areas. (Sun.star photo/Arni Aclao) A FUNERAL service in Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City ended in a visit to the hospital, after at least 58 residents fell ill allegedly because of food poisoning. Jose Quiquiles, 70, his children and other relatives did not make it to his wife’s burial yesterday noon because they had to be rushed to the hospital after they started vomiting, which they blamed on the meat they ate for lunch. The incident left only around five people to attend their kin’s funeral service, Buhisan Councilor Maria Luisa Moreno said. [full story]