DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/15 May) – Still unidentified gunmen shot dead a leader of a militant farmers' group here early Thursday morning, reports said.
Celso B. Pojas, 45, spokesperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Southern Mindanao and the chair of the Farmers' Association of Davao City (FADC), sustained three gunshot wounds — one each in the left and right ribcage, and on the left forearm.
KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/15 May) – From Bishop Romulo to another Bishop Romulo.
After over a year without a bishop, the Vatican has finally named a new head for the Diocese of Kidapawan — Bishop Romulo Tolentino de la Cruz, former Bishop of Basilan who currently heads the Catholic church in San Jose de Antique in the island of Panay.
MARAWI CITY (MindaNews/15 May) — Civil society organizations (CSO) here are planning to organize Mindanao-wide protests that will culminate in a peace march to Malacañang if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would not heed a petition demanding the resumption of the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
MAASIM, Sarangani (MindaNews/15 May) – On Saturday, Sarangani residents will be witness to a grueling race — a 15-kilometer swim across Sarangani Bay, from this town all the way to Glan.
The event is part of the third Sarangani Bay Festival set on May 16-18, according to the Provincial Information Office.
MARAWI CITY (MindaNews/14 May) — Representatives of civil society organizations believed that “foreign businessmen in cahoots with national government officials” have caused the backtracking of the government in its peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The sentiment surfaced in a peace summit organized by the Maranao People Development Center (Maradeca) participated in by 112 representatives from various sectors of society here, including representatives of the MILF, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Army.
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/14 May) — Prices of goods in Central Mindanao have averaged 10.8 percent in April, the highest inflation rate ever recorded, officials said.
Herlita G. Caraan, National Statistical and Coordination Board (NSCB) chief for Central Mindanao, stressed it was the first time ever inflation rate breached the double-digit figure. During the same time last year, inflation was only between 2 and 4 percent.
KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/14 May) – New People’s Army rebels confiscated Monday 10 firearms from the security group of a banana plantation owned by the Lorenzo family in Calinan District, Davao City, the group’s statement claimed.
The communist rebels under the 1st Pulang Bagani of the Merardo Arce Command carted away four M14, three Garand, one Baby Armalite and one M4 rifles and an M79 grenade launcher.
