Mayoralty candidate’s son nabbed for illegal drugs

A SON of a candidate for mayor was caught in possession of some P100,000 worth of suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) when arrested in a manhunt operation in Zamboanga City, the police said Saturday.

Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said arrested was Ashraf Kayzar Ikbala, 34, a businessman, whose father, retired Chief Superintendent Sukarno Ikabala, is running for mayor in this city.

Galvez said the younger Ikbala was arrested in a manhunt operation around 2:30 p.m. Friday in Tumaga village.

She said Ikbala has standing warrant of arrested issued by the court of this city for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

She said the court did not recommended a bail for the violation of the Section 5 while a bail of P200,000 has been set for the violation of Section 11.

The arresting team has recovered from the suspect some P100,000 worth of suspected shabu packed in seven heat-sealed plastic sachets during a preventive search, Galvez added. (SunStar Philippines)

2. TAGS: Tricycle Adjudication Board, tricycle franchises

City gov’t to cancel 309 tricycle franchises

THE Zamboanga City Government through the Tricycle Adjudication Board (TAB) is canceling some 309 franchise to operate motorized tricycle that were not renewed for the past three years.

TAB Riding Public Representative Erlinda Mandi-Luelo said the cancellation of unrenewed franchise is pursuant to Ordinance 185 otherwise known as the tricycle ordinance of this city.

Luelo said the tricycles, the franchise of which will are set to be cancelled, are operating in five far-flung villages of this city.

Of the total, Luelo said that 115 of the tricycles with unrenewed franchise are operating in the villae of Vitali; 106 in Ayala; 49 in Curuan; and, 39 in Manicahan.

She said that one of the reasons why the operators did not renew their franchise to operate tricycle is that they have possibly found another means of livelihood.

Meanwhile, she said the city council has amended Ordinance 185, which seeks to modernize the tricycle units in this city. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)