Italy has expressed its gratitude for the immediate action of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and authorities in securing the safe release of Italian kidnap victim Andrea Cianferoni.
In a letter sent by Italian Ambassador Umberto Colesanti to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the Italian government acknowledged the prompt assistance of the Arroyo administration in resolving the kidnapping incident in a very short time.
"I wish to thank you very much for your immediate response to my request for help. Your prompt action has greatly contributed to the release of my citizen in a very short time," said Colesanti in his letter.
The ambassador also extended his gratitude to Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Efren Abu for immediately notifying the embassy about the release of Cianferoni.
DAVAO CITY (DPA) — Two soldiers were killed and another was wounded in an ambush by communist rebels in the southern Philippines, the military said yesterday.
The victims were not in uniform and unarmed when they were attacked late Sunday in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, 975 kilometers south of Manila.
Colonel Eduardo del Rosario said the soldiers were on their way to their detachment in the village of Dagohoy when an undetermined number of rebels opened fire at them.
"Two of the soldiers died on the spot, another was wounded, while a fourth one was unhurt in the attack," he said.
Del Rosario said troops have been dispatched to hunt down the guerrillas.
Communist rebels have been fighting the Philippine government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia.
Peace talks between the rebels and the Philippine government have been suspended since August due to the continued inclusion of the guerrillas in the terror listings of foreign governments.
In October, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered a review of the peace negotiations, citing growing evidence of links between the guerrillas and foreign terrorists.
The United States, the European Union, Canada, and Australia have included the communist rebels in their blacklist of foreign terrorists.
1 killed, 1 hurt in mishap
SAN MATEO, Rizal — A woman on board a motorcycle was killed while his driver companion was seriously injured when the motorcycle they were riding was bumped by an owner-type jeep here yesterday.
Cynthia Paras, 31, married of 8 Apo St., Montaña Subdivision, this town, died at the Rodriguez Hospital due to multiple body injuries.
Her companion, Robert Ruben, is confined at the hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained because of the mishap.
Initial investigation conducted by PO2 Eugene Cruz, officer on case, disclosed that the incident happened at 1 a.m. along General Luna St., Barangay Gitnang Bayan II, here.
The victims were on board a motorcycle with license plate VD-9771 when it was hit by an owner-jeep with license plates VBC698 driven by Rogelio Tan.
Tan is now detained at the San Mateo, Rizal police station while charges are being prepared against him. (Madelynne Dominguez)
City projects almost finished
CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur — The two flagship projects of the city government, through the able leadership of Mayor Allen G. Singson, will be finished sooner than expected.
"We are still on track in the construction of the city hospital and the city hall. We are very optimistic that we would finish these two priority projects as scheduled," Candon City Engineer Esteban "Steve" Martinez said.
Martinez said that the Candon City Hospital is scheduled to open by December which is now 75 percent complete.
The four-story hospital with a floor area of 3,589 square meters has a 50-bed capacity and is located along the national highway in Barangay San Nicolas, here.
Martinez said that at least R15 million more is needed for the completion of the hospital.
"The amount will be used for painting, setting the tiles, plumbing, site development, and other needs to complete the building," Martinez said.
Some R55 million have been used for the construction of the hospital, which is categorized as a tertiary hospital by the Department of Health and will be considered as one of the most modern government hospitals in the Ilocos region once it is finished. (Mar T. Supnad)
