Manila

Police officer killed in communist rebel attack in Philippines

Police officer killed in communist rebel attack in PhilippinesManila  - A police officer was killed Friday when communist rebels attacked a town police station in the southern Philippines, a police report said.

The report said about 50 heavily armed communist rebels swooped down on the police station in Carmen town in Agusan del Norte province, 795 kilometres south of Manila.

The rebels outnumbered the police officers in the station and shot one of the police officers in the head.

Philippine court convicts three Muslim militants in 2000 bombings

Philippine court convicts three Muslim militants in 2000 bombings Manila  - A Philippine court convicted three Muslim militants Friday in the deadly bombing of an overhead train in Manila more than eight years ago and sentenced them to more than 20 years in prison.

Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Cielito Mendaro-Grulla found Mukhlis Hadji Yunus, Abdul Fatak Paute and Mamasao Naga guilty of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.

ICRC lost contact with kidnapped staff in southern Philippines

International Committee of the Red Cross Manila - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Thursday it has lost contact with its three staff who were abducted a week ago by Muslim militants in the southern Philippines.

The ICRC said the last time their three abducted workers - Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba - were able to call was on January
19.

The three victims had just visited the provincial jail on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, when gunmen blocked their vehicle and seized them on January 15.

Three hurt in communist rebel raid on southern Philippine jail

Three hurt in communist rebel raid on southern Philippine jail Manila  - Three people were injured when communist rebels raided a city jail in the southern Philippines and carted away firearms, army spokesmen said Thursday.

About 40 armed guerrillas swooped down on the jail Wednesday in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon province, 855 kilometres south of Manila, Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said.

"A jail personnel, a worker and one inmate were wounded in the attack," he said.

The rebels seized three M16 rifles and two pistols from the jail's guards, he added.

Philippine shares drop 3 per cent amid market worries

Philippine shares drop 3 per cent amid market worries

Philippines to probe alleged corruption in WB-funded road project

Philippines FlagManila - The Philippine government will investigate allegations of corruption in a road project funded by the World Bank, which blacklisted seven companies due to the charges, officials said Thursday.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya said the Department of Public Works and Highway already temporarily suspended the firms - three Filipino and four Chinese - from participating in locally-funded or foreign-assisted projects.

The department will make a decision on whether to start blacklisting procedures against the companies in 15 days, he said.

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