. NEWS ROUNDUP .

AN Air Force colonel was found dead in front of his quarters at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City Friday morning, an hour after taking the annual physical fitness test.

PAF spokesman Maj. Gerry Zamudio said Col. Miguel Guialogo, 54, head of the PAF Research and Development Center based at Fernando Air Base in Lipa, Batangas, was found dead at around 9:30 a.m. outside his room at the PAF’s Married Officers Quarters by the wife of an Air Force major who lives in the same building.

Zamudio said Guialogo took the PFT, which consists of a 2.5-kilometer jog, pushups and situps beginning at 6 a.m. at the Protacio Park inside the camp and completed the test after one hour. "According to the report we got, the PFT is intended for prospective generals," he said.

Zamudio said a medical team arrived at the scene about 15 minutes later but attending physicians at the Villamor hospital declared Guialogo dead of a heart attack.

PFT is actually a requirement not only for military officers but also for enlisted personnel. All military personnel up for promotion have to pass the PFT. – Victor Reyes

PHILIPPINE National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. would be turning over his post to a still unnamed successor on Sept. 27, or two days before he reaches the retirement age of 56.

PNP deputy spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos made this announcement to clarify an earlier pronouncement by Razon himself that the turnover rites had been postponed until Oct. 3 because President Arroyo would not be available on Sept. 29.

"(September) 27 is the last memorandum to us...We are planning for 27, 10 o’clock in the morning," Carlos said. "Of course, if there will be changes from Malacañang, we will adjust again."

Carlos said there is still no official word on who among the front-running deputy chief for administration Jesus Verzosa and directorial staff deputy director Ismael Rafanan and Metro police chief Geary Barias will succeed Razon. – Victor Reyes

ALARMED by the contaminated milk that has already affected over 6,000 babies in China, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday called on local consumers to avoid unbranded or repacked milk products and stick to brands they know.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the public must not risk the health of their family in exchange for cheaper milk products. "Huwag kayong magpapadala sa napakamura na gatas. Mag-isip kayo. Huwag kayong sumugal. Huwag bibili ng mga repacked, huwag iyong mga unbranded," Duque said.

He said if something goes wrong, consumers who stick to branded products as well as government agencies like the Bureau of Food and Drugs will know who should be held liable.

BFAD information officer Francia Labuy said there is no record that the tainted milk formula manufactured in China by Sanlu Group has reached the country. Sanlu recalled its milk products last week after these were found contaminated with melamine, a chemical used to make resins and plastic. So far, at least 6,200 babies have already developed kidney stones from the tainted milk and four have died. – Gerard M. Naval

THE PNP Highway Patrol Group arrested two suspects reportedly involved in the manufacture of fake plate numbers for vehicles during an entrapment operation in Quezon City last Thursday, it was reported yesterday.

The suspects were Gerardo Lopez, 48, an employee of Aleha Drug Testing and Laboratory and a resident of Tandang Sora, Quezon City; and Francisco Arapoc, 42, an alleged fixer at the Land Transportation Office and a resident of Bagong Silang, Quezon City.

Senior Supt. Dennis Siervo, HPG-National Capital Region head, said they were tipped off about the sale of fake LTO registration documents and fake license plates outside the LTO compound. He said two civilian assets were sent to buy three plate numbers – a for-hire one, a No. 8 protocol plate, and a diplomatic plate – for some P3,000 each.

The assets were told the plates were ready for pickup the next day and the cops picked them up. – Victor Reyes