Manila - Muslim militants holding captive three Red Cross workers in the southern Philippines have threatened to behead one of the hostages if government troops do not move out of their jungle hideouts by the end of the month, officials said Wednesday.
The latest threat was issued by Abu Sayyaf rebel leader Albader Parad on Monday as the military stepped up a blockade to prevent food and supplies from reaching the guerrillas in the hinterland of Indanan town on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.
Manila - A Filipino fashion designer was under fire in the Philippines Wednesday for berating and insulting employees of a duty-free shop in a "creative outburst" caught on video.
Angelo Fajardo even demanded a cashier at the a duty free shop outside Manila's international airport to kneel for his forgiveness after his tantrum on March 13.
Fajardo's flare-up, which was caught on a surveillance video, triggered public ire when the footage was uploaded on the popular video sharing site YouTube.
Manila - Former Philippine president Joseph Estrada is facing an investigation for allegedly displaying in public a toy machine gun, police said Wednesday.
Police Director General Jesus Versoza said Estrada might be charged for violation of a 1982 edict of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, which prohibits civilians from displaying real or fake high-powered firearms.
"I think there are some executive orders that are prohibiting the use of toy guns and displaying them in public," Versoza said.
Manila - The Philippine armed forces suspended on Tuesday military operations against Muslim militants to pave the way for negotiations for the release of three Red Cross hostages on a southern island, a navy spokesman said.
Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo said the military was holding off its offensives against Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, to allow negotiations for the release of three captive personnel of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Manila - Philippine share prices rose 2.05 per cent for the second straight day Tuesday on hopes that a US plan to rid banks of toxic assets would put financial markets on the road to recovery.
The Philippine Stock Exchange's 30-share composite index gained 38.60 points to close at 1,917.69, from Monday's finish of 1,879.09.
A total of 2.633 billion shares worth 3.636 billion pesos (75 million dollars) were traded.
Gainers swamped losers 76 to 16, while 47 issues were unchanged.
Cotabato City, Philippines - A homemade bomb exploded along a highway in a southern Philippine city on Tuesday, but no one was hurt in the third bomb attack this week in the area, a local official said.
The bomb, made from a 60-millimetre mortar shell, went off as a passenger bus passed on the highway in the village of Tamontaka in Cotabato City, 960 kilometres south of Manila.
"It would appear that the bomb was intended for the Husky Bus Company," Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema said.
Manila - Muslim militants holding captive three Red Cross workers in the southern Philippines have threatened to behead one of the hostages if government troops do not move out of their jungle hideouts by the end of the month, officials said Wednesday.
Manila - A Filipino fashion designer was under fire in the Philippines Wednesday for berating and insulting employees of a duty-free shop in a "creative outburst" caught on video.
Manila - Former Philippine president Joseph Estrada is facing an investigation for allegedly displaying in public a toy machine gun, police said Wednesday.
Manila - The Philippine armed forces suspended on Tuesday military operations against Muslim militants to pave the way for negotiations for the release of three Red Cross hostages on a southern island, a navy spokesman said.
Manila - Philippine share prices rose 2.05 per cent for the second straight day Tuesday on hopes that a US plan to rid banks of toxic assets would put financial markets on the road to recovery.
Cotabato City, Philippines - A homemade bomb exploded along a highway in a southern Philippine city on Tuesday, but no one was hurt in the third bomb attack this week in the area, a local official said.
