Caloocan to residents, traders: Pay taxes early

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri urged local taxpayers yesterday to settle their obligations ahead of the Jan. 20 deadline to avoid penalties and surcharges.

These taxpayers include real property owners, business establishments and operators of heavy machineries and equipment.

Echiverri said real property owners who pay their taxes before the end of this month will be given a 15 percent discount; those who pay before the end of February will get a 10 percent discount; and those who settle before the end of March will get a five percent discount.

He said the city government has been giving taxpayers the privilege to pay on a quarterly basis.

Echiverri said the Business Permit and Licensing Office will extend its office hours up to 9 p.m. to accommodate the bulk of taxpayers while the Real Property Tax Division will be open until 6 p.m. Business permit renewal express counters and one-stop shops have also been put up in front of the city hall building.

Echiverri urged taxpayers to visit the city’s official website www.caloocancity.gov.ph for their queries and suggestions regarding tax payment process.   – Jerry Botial, Pete Laude 

Cop shoots rob suspect in Navotas

A Manila policeman shot and critically wounded a robbery suspect in Navotas City early yesterday.

Manila policeman Senior Police Officer 2 Gregorio Mendoza seized from the suspect, an 18-year-old boy, a loaded .38 caliber revolver. The suspect, who sustained a bullet wound in the stomach, is confined at the Tondo Medical Center.

Investigation showed that factory worker Jimson Gilig, 19, was waiting for a ride home at the corner of C-3 Road and Honorio Lopez Avenue at around 2 a.m. when four men approached him. One of them pulled out a gun and ordered Gilig to hand them his mobile phone and wallet.

Gilig shouted for help as the suspects fled on foot. Mendoza, who happened to be in the area, chased the fleeing robbers and was able to corner the boy.

The suspect reportedly tried to shoot Mendoza with his revolver, prompting the policeman to fire at him. Mendoza then rushed the wounded suspect to the hospital.

Navotas investigator Police Officer 1 Jonathan Amotan said the case was still under investigation “as the suspect remains in critical condition in the hospital.”   – Pete Laude