Across the Islands

Pampanga mayors clamor for Arroyo to seek House seat

Saturday, 31 October 2009 08:52 Charlene Cayabyab/Inquirer.net

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - If the mayors of Pampanga’s second district could have their way, they would want to see President Macapagal-Arroyo in Congress in 2010.

The mayors’ statements came after flyers urging Ms Arroyo to run for representative appeared in one of her visits to Lubao, the hometown of her late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal.

MILF modifies Sinnott rescue plan

Friday, 30 October 2009 08:49 Ryan Rosauro/Inquirer.net

PAGADIAN CITY - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front said on Friday it was revising its plan for the rescue of kidnapped Irish Catholic priest Michael Sinnott after the Zamboanga del Sur crisis management committee asked it to reduce the number of men tasked to carry out the mission.

Eid Kabalu, MILF civil-military affairs chief, told the Inquirer by phone that the MILF organized a company-size group of guerrillas—one company is about 150 men—to go after the group that snatched Sinnott last Oct. 11 and rescue the priest.

US firms eye investments in Mindanao

Thursday, 29 October 2009 08:43 Judy Quiros/Inquirer.net

DAVAO CITY - Twelve American companies have sent representatives to this city to explore possible investment opportunities in Mindanao.

The US trade mission, led by US Department of Agriculture deputy administrator Patricia Sheikh, arrived here Wednesday and joined an agri-business event organized by the government.

Leptospirosis breaks out in La Union; Pangasinan under watch

Wednesday, 28 October 2009 10:08 Dona Pazzibugan/Inquirer.net

MANILA - The Department of Health remains on “heightened alert” to address the outbreak of the flood-borne disease leptospirosis not only in Metro Manila but also in other places ravaged by back-to-back typhoons in September.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday that the outbreak in Marikina has already “passed,” but an outbreak has been declared in the towns of Aringay, Bauang and Naguillan in La Union.

Germany pledges aid for conflict victims in Mindanao

Tuesday, 27 October 2009 08:32 Jerome Aning/Inquirer.net

MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said Germany has committed a million euros (about P70 million) for humanitarian efforts to support victims of conflict in Mindanao.

The DFA, in a statement, quoted German ambassador Christian Ludwig Weber-Lortsch saying that his government announced on Oct. 21 that it would be making the donation to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Philippines.