A mother’s appeal

THE MOTHER of suspected hazing victim Cris Anthony Mendez yesterday appealed to Dr. Francisco Cruz to present his son and convince him to cooperate in the investigation. Cristina, Mendez’s mother, went to the National Bureau of Investigation yesterday to follow up her son’s case. Mendez was declared dead on arrival at a hospital last August of injuries believed to have been sustained during hazing rites. Cruz, who took him to the hospital, said that it was his son, Miguel Francisco, who brought the victim to him and asked him to take him to the hospital. “He is also a parent so I hope that he knows how I feel,” Cristina said. Cruz earlier asked the NBI to give his son time to present himself to investigators. Only the younger Cruz’s lawyers, however, showed up at the NBI last week. Tina G. Santos

Cheaper veggies for Manileños

MANILA residents were assured of cheaper vegetables in the city’s markets yesterday after the launch of a program to eliminate red tape in the delivery of goods and produce. During the project launch at the Pritil Wet and Dry Market in Tondo, Mayor Alfredo Lim said it was an honor for the city to be chosen as the site of yesterday’s launch of “World Food Day” which was led by President Macapagal-Arroyo. Lim hailed the government’s efforts to lower the price of vegetables by removing the middlemen. “The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child, alone or with others, have physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement,” he said. Allison W. Lopez

Reverend Panlilio; 90

REV. FRANCISCO M. Panlilio Jr., one of the founders of the Barrio Obrero Baptist Church (BOBC), died last Oct. 14 due to cardiac arrest. He was 90. A native of Mexico, Pampanga, Panlilio started preaching in the early 1940s and was one of the pioneers when the BOBC was established in 1949. Panlilio is survived by his wife, Florence; children and in-laws Cita and Baby Macaso; Timmy and Loren Panlilio; Jun and Eivy Panlilio; Rommel and Gere Panlilio; Ed Galvez; and Richard Quiocho. His remains lie at the BOBC, 23 C. Namie St., Caloocan City. Interment plans will be announced later.