National News

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- An Islamic scholar says the absence of a ransom demand suggests kidnappers of Italian Father Giancarlo Bossi may have other "agenda." Kidnappers may "want to impress the government that they have still their arms or strength to face the government in confrontation or in battle," suggested Alim Elias Macarandas. The member of the Tripartite Commission of the Bishops-Ulama (Islamic scholars) Conference spoke with UCA News by phone from Marawi City, 805 kilometers southeast of Manila. His remarks on June 22 came 12 days after armed men seized Father Bossi near his parish in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, west of Marawi City.

June 1, 2007—The Catholic bishops’ leadership said they are “shamed and saddened” the country continues to record high in corruption and cases of human rights abuses. In a message for the celebration of the 109th anniversary of Philippine Independence, CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo stressed the said issues that continue to haunt the current administration are “negative” notes to the celebration of Independence Day.

MANILA--The Senate and the House of Representatives will organize their own technical working group that would look into the formation of a unified version of a bill that will extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program for another five years. This was agreed upon by the Senate and the House members during Friday’s dialogue where the lawmakers threshed out common solution to extend the bill which expired its 20-year implementation last year.

MANILA--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that the signing of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) has opened new opportunities for Filipino health workers to work in Japan starting April this year.