Military won't join anti-Charter change rally
MANILA, Philippines?The military on Monday said troops would not join the anti-Charter change rally in Ayala, Makati on Wednesday and that they would stay on the job during the activity. In a briefing in Camp Aguinaldo Monday afternoon, military spokesman Lieutenent Colonel Romeo Brawner said even soldiers on leave or on their days off are barred from participating in any political activity. Brawner said those caught taking part in the protest risk dismissal. Tarra Quismundo
Militants vs VP?s 2010 presidential bid
MANILA, Philippines?Militant groups in Metro Manila have launched a campaign among the urban poor not to vote for Vice President Noli De Castro in the 2010 national elections. In a statement, Roy Velez, chairman of Bagong Alayansang Makabayan in the National Capital Region, said their group and Bangon Maralita, an organization of residents living along the railways in Muntinlupa City, promised not to cast a single vote for De Castro in 2010. Velez said De Castro had a hand in the massive demolitions of shanties along the railroad tracks as part of the government project to modernize the railways. De Castro heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), a government agency facilitating the urban poor's access to decent and affordable housing options. Niña Catherine Calleja
20 operators dismantle ?sexy? billboards
MANILA, Philippines? Following warnings from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), 20 operators of outdoor signages featuring "indecent" images have voluntarily dismantled their billboards in the metropolis. n a statement Monday, DPWH assistant regional director for Metro Manila Armando Estrella said the operators of outdoor advertisements apparently "realized that many people were against indecent and immoral billboards." Marlon Ramos
Woman faces raps for death of 5 pedestrians
MANILA, Philippines?Police are set to file charges against the woman driver who figured in a road accident that claimed five lives in Parañaque City Sunday afternoon. Parañaque police on Monday said four children and their grandmother were run over by a Honda CR-V driven by Myra Abiog, while they crossing the pedestrian lane on C-5 road extension in Barangay (Village) San Dionisio around 2:40 p.m. Inspector Reynando Dela Peña, Parañaque traffic investigator, identified the fatalities as John Lloyd Alde, 11, Jericho Revinaflor, 8, Jomari Bravo Alde, 4, John Christian Alde, 10, and Nenita Lagdamen Lopez, 62. Abiog, a resident of Las Piñas City, allegedly lost her brakes while traveling the northbound lane of C-5 on the way to Parañaque City. Niña Catherine Calleja
Flu rumor stops classes in Marikina school
MANILA, Philippines?The Calumpang Elementary School suspended classes Monday over a swine flu scare after a Grade VI pupil exhibited symptoms, but doctors later said it was a case of diphtheria, Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando said. She said a parent started the panic by wondering aloud if their children would be infected with the dreaded disease. Rumors about the scare spread around the school and among parents but it turned out to be false. But to prevent increasing the panic, the principal declared the class suspended for the day. Classes at the school are expected to resume Tuesday. DJ Yap
P7M worth of logs seized in Sierra Madre
MANILA, Philippines?About 300,000 board feet of lumber from Sierra Madre worth around P7.2 million was confiscated after combined units of Tanggol Kalikasan (Defend Nature), the Armed Forces, and the Isabela provincial government raided three lumber yards and log ponds in San Mariano town in Isabela. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) information officer Gregg Yan described the local situation in Isabela as ?tense? over the last month, as a Tanggol Kalikasan enforcement team which was returning from a confiscation effort involving 30,000 board feet of lumber was ambushed by armed men using M16s and M203 grenade launchers. ?Enforcement teams anticipate a further escalation of local tensions. Just recently, Sierra Madre conservation advocate Frank Talosig, mayor of Maconacon town in Isabela, was ambushed and shot in the nape in Tuguegarao City. Luckily, he survived and no one from the team was killed,? Yan said. The Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park has over 300,000 hectares of dipterocarp forest, watershed, and wildlife sanctuary?the largest remaining block of old-growth forest in the country that is home to 45 percent of plants and 153 animals endemic to the Philippines, said WWF. Anna Valmero
Group starts campaign for voters? education
DAVAO CITY?A privately funded group has launched a Mindanao-wide advocacy program aimed at helping voters decide whom to choose in the 2010 elections. Carlos Munda, one of the organizers of the Mindanao Vote Awareness, told reporters here that his group was not endorsing any candidate. The group?s goal, he said, is for voters to make a wise decision by helping them know the candidates? platforms, particularly their stand on the issue of the decades-old peace and order condition in Mindanao, comprehensive economic program, and increased representation of Mindanao in national governance. Munda said the group even put up a website (www.mindanaovote.com), where aspirants for the positions of president and senator, and other politicians could post their agenda. Riza Acac, Inquirer Mindanao
Halili files raps vs Belo, 2 others
MANILA, Philippines?Actress Katrina Halili on Monday filed criminal complaint against Dr. Vicki Bello and two others before the Department of Justice (DOJ) believed to be responsible for uploading her steamy videos with Belo?s boyfriend Dr. Hayden Kho. Aside from Bello, also slapped with the complaint for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 were Engineer Eric Johnston Chua and Dr. Mark Herbert ?Bistek?Rosario. Tetch Torres
