Mexico City  -

Manila - Almost half the Philippines' police officers have no handguns as they battle rampant crime, a national police official said Thursday.

Chief Superintendent Lani-O Nerez, deputy director for logistics for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said 51,242 out of 125,000 police officers had not been provided handguns due to a shortage in weapons.

He said the PNP has a total of 73,758 short firearms such as pistols and revolvers.

Manila - A Philippine Red Cross official warned Thursday against paying ransom to free three kidnapped colleagues amid reports that Muslim militants had demanded 50 million pesos (1.03 million dollars) in exchange for their freedom.

Philippine National Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon said paying ransom for the release of the abducted staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross would only trigger more attacks against humanitarian workers.

Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba were seized January 15 by Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.

Manila - A senior public works official and his driver were wounded by gunfire Wednesday in an attack outside his office in the Philippine capital, a police report said.

Ramon Aquino, undersecretary for operations of the Department of Public Works and Highways, was in his car when two gunmen fired at him just outside the office compound in Manila.

Aquino suffered gunshot wounds in the chest and abdomen while his driver, identified as Tony Ganera, also suffered bullet wounds.

Manila  - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has signed into law a bill defining the country's territorial boundaries and laying claim to disputed areas in the South China Sea, a top aide said Wednesday.

Presidential Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Arroyo signed the Baselines Law on Tuesday despite a strong protest by China over the measure.

"We are sending the message to the whole world that we are affirming our national sovereignty," Ermita said. "We are affirming our national interest."