Conflicting claims
THE New People’s Army in Southern Mindanao has accused the Armed Forces of “distorting the facts” surrounding an alleged ambush incident in Monkayo town in Compostela Valley on Wednesday. The surprise attack killed two soldiers and a purok chieftain.
Refuting claims of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division that the victims were not carrying arms when the incident happened, the NPA’s Alejandro Lanaja Command (ALC), operating in the province, said in a statement the two soldiers were armed with .45-caliber pistols and hand grenade. The NPA also denied that they ambushed the victims.
No peace talks
MUSLIM rebels said Friday they will only resume peace talks if an international body guarantees an autonomy deal with the government despite suspension of military offensives.
The rebels have been fighting for Muslim self-rule in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation for decades. Talks broke down last year when the government accused them of attacking Christian villages after the Supreme Court threw out a preliminary autonomy deal as unconstitutional.
Port expansion
THE Davao Port in Sasa is among the identified completed President Arroyo’s priority projects that have been lined up for completion in 2010 from its inception in 2006. Inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last February 13, the Davao Port expansion project cost P400-million.
The port expansion consisted of the construction of a 3,179 square meter reinforced concrete wharf; a 13,180 square meter back-up area; a mooring and gendering area; a drainage system, port lighting and rock works. President Arroyo also graced the ground-breaking rites of the P870-million passenger terminal building project located at the Sasa Port which was designed to include the development of parking areas and a Ro-Ro ramp, a greeter building and a gate complex.
Unhampered
MAYOR Rodrigo Duterte is unruffled by the 6-month preventive suspension of three officials, including City Administrator Wendel Avisado, over the demolition of the Erico Nograles Park along Quezon Boulevard last year.
He said the government is not run like a monopoly, so there are always second stringers who can handle the job of Avisado, City Engineer Jose Gestuveo, Jr. and the City Drainage Maintenance Unit head Yusop Jimlani, in their absence.
Agenda
SPEAKER Prospero C. Nograles has set the agenda for the coming 3rd regular session of the 14th Congress which will focus, among others, on investments in-flow, jobs generation, social justice and human development, and good governance.
He stressed that the House leadership will synchronize its development agenda with that of the President’s to hasten national economic recovery and sustained growth amid the global economic crunch.
