Philippine News Digest 16

Contents:

• Army told not to use minor members of Abu Sayaff
• Child rapist wanted in US nabbed in RP
• 8,000 Filipinos lost jobs since January
• E-courts: Justice at click of mouse
• Army told not to use minor members of Abu Sayaff

The secretary said no child should be a part or victim of war. At least three children in Basilan admitted to being members of the Abu Sayaff. One of them, a 12-year old boy, said he joined the group because two of his older brothers are with the Abu Sayaff. normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Source: Julie S. Alipala, Philippine Daily Inquirer Mindanao Bureau, 1 March 2002.

Child rapist wanted in US nabbed in RP

Police caught Jeffrey Mark Clark, a fugitive from the United States, February 24 in Cebu City where he had been hiding since he entered the Philippines under an assumed name. Clark was convicted of incest in 1997 and sentenced to go a three-year rehabilitation program for sex offenders at the Oregon State Hospital. He, however, escaped a year later. Source: AFP report in Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1 March 2002.

8,000 Filipinos lost jobs since January

The Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics said 8,599 workers were laid off between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15 as more companies either downsize operations or reported financial losses. The figure averaged 191 retrenched workers a day. They will join the 4.2 million Filipinos who are currently unemployed. To cushion the effects of the layoffs, Labor Secretary Patricio Sto. Tomas said the government hopes to deploy 1 million Filipinos overseas this year, going so far as to declare 2002 as the Year of the Overseas Employment Providers. normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Source: Blanche S. Rivera, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 26 February 2002.

E-courts: Justice at click of mouse

Pilot e-courts were being set up around the country and would be operational within the next three months, according to the Supreme Court’s chief information officer, Ivan Uy, and Assistant Solicitor General Karl Miranda. These courts will be upgraded in stages to include the following features: computer-aided transcription machines, video room, trial court website and computer link up to the Supreme Court. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, who initiated the creation of the country’s first electronic courts, said e-courts can eliminate or at the very least reduce case back logs the Philippine judicial system is notorious for . normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Source: Volt Contreras, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 18 February 2002.