June 27, 2007 11:30 pm

Retired General Rodolfo Garcia is new peace panel chair

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 June) – The government’s new peace panel chair in the negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is again a retired general.

But retired general Rodolfo Cadiz Garcia is no stranger to both government and MILF peace panels, having served as government peace panel member since August 9, 2004, and before that, as head of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities while he was the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Vice Chief of Staff from January 10, 2003 until his retirement on July 7, 2004.

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Prayers everywhere for Fr. Bossi’s release

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 June) — Everywhere one goes, it seems that everybody is praying for the release of Fr. Giancarlo Bossi.

In the celebration of the Catholic Holy Mass in small chapels, parishes, and even in the blessing of new establishments like Davao City's Duty Free shop, the faithful pray for his release weeks after Fr. Bossi was kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay.

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Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett to shoot 2008 thriller in Diwalwal

MONKAYO, Compostela Valley (MindaNews/27 June) — Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett is slated to shoot scenes for his upcoming film in the gold-rush village of Mt. Diwalwal here, a village official said on Monday.

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COMMENT: Alien’s Impression

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/27 June) – A 19-paragraph long article published in an Australian paper showed an alien’s impression of the Philippines based on his observations of the May 14 election. Bulatlat that posted the article was silent about the paper’s circulation; however, it is assumed that most of the paper’s readers shared the author’s impression – partially, if not fully.

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Detained NorthCot town mayor refuses to transfer prison cell

KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/27 June) – Detained Mayor Floro Allado of Banisilan, North Cotabato has refused to leave his prison cell at the city police station here despite an order from the court transfering him to the provincial jail.

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Duty Free Philippines back in Davao with 2 shops

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 June) — Duty Free Philippines opened today its shops at the Davao International Airport, one of two stores it is opening here after it pulled out in the late 1990s. It returned to Davao due to the city's rising tourist arrivals and a growing remittance of returning overseas Filipino workers.

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