Philippine News Digest 113

Contents:
-Bomb kills child in Philippines
-Two youth party-list watchers abducted, slain
-PGMA awards Presidential Citation to SOS children’s community

Bomb kills child in Philippines
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6668165.stm
Published: 2007/05/18 05:47:46 GMT
© BBC MMVII

A bomb has exploded at a bus station in the city of Cotabato in the southern Philippines, killing a young boy and injuring about 20 others.

A local police chief told Reuters news agency fragments of the bomb had been recovered at a canteen in the station.

The motive for attack was unclear, police chief Paniares Adap said.

Cotabato is a major city in the southern Philippines, where Islamic militants have been fighting against the largely Catholic government.

The country’s mid-term elections earlier this week were marred by outbreaks of violence.

More than 100 people were killed in the three-month election campaign period, and observers predicted the long vote-count would lead to more violence.

But police told reporters it was too early to say if the Cotabato explosion was related to the polls.

Two youth party-list watchers abducted, slain
Breaking News / Regions
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=66681
By Erwin Oliva, Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net, May 18, 2007

MANILA, Philippines–Two poll watchers of the Kabataan (Youth) party-list group were abducted and murdered in Capalonga, Camarines Norte, the group said Friday.

A Kabataan statement said Jun Bagasbas, 20 years old, and Ronilo Vallevare, both Kabataan organizers and poll watchers, were allegedly seized by soldiers on May 15 and were found dead the next day between Barangay (village) Mataque and Catabaguangan..

The same information was relayed by Tonyo Cruz, information officer of Bayan Muna (People First,) which is allied with Kabataan.

Police have yet to confirm the incident.

“This is a very sad period for all vigilant youth and citizens,” Raymond Palatino, Kabataan national president and nominee, said. He noted that the murder of Bagasbas and Vallevare came right after the death of a teacher and poll watcher when armed men attacked the school they were serving in and set it ablaze.

Palatino said Kabataan is holding government accountable for the recent deaths because it has failed “to address the climate of impunity that has permeated this election period at the onset.

Kabataan will stage an indignation rally at the Timog Circle in Quezon City at 4 p.m. Friday.

PGMA awards Presidential Citation to SOS children’s community
www.gov.ph/news/?i=17655
Friday, May 4, 2007

In recognition of its contribution in uplifting the lives of the Filipino youth, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded a Presidential Citation to the SOS Children’s Villages Philippines, an internationally subsidized orphaned community, in rites held in Malacañang this morning.

The President cited the SOS (Save Our Souls) community for faithfully and steadily pursuing its goals and development in the last 40 years that benefited Filipino children in various villages and supporting youth facilities located in Calbayog, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Lipa, Manila and Tacloban.

SOS offers livelihood skills and vocational training programs, counseling and day care centers, educational programs and scholarships to less privileged families living near the children’s villages.

It has transformed and changed the lives of the 964 SOS integrated and independent children, making them productive citizens and practiced members of society.

The SOS Children’s Village originated in Austria in 1949 while its counterpart in the Philippines was established on Feb. 29, 1964.

It is a place for orphaned, abandoned and neglected children in extreme difficult circumstances. Competent and responsible SOS mothers and co-workers provide unconditional love and inspiration, support and encouragement for these children to make them feel they belong.

Today, there are seven SOS Children’s Villages and 17 attached facilities being managed in the Philippines.

-End-