Sunday, February 08, 2004 (Philippines)

PROMISING ARTISTS. High school students join the painting contest at Burnham Park’s Athletic Bowl on Saturday as part of the 9th staging of the Panagbenga Baguio Flower Festival. Photo by HARLEY PALANGCHAO CAMP ALLEN, Baguio -- Politicians in Abra province and nearby Ilocos Sur have reportedly started giving guns and money to communist guerillas to gain access to rebel-controlled areas in line with the May 2004 polls, the military’s Civil Relations Service (CRS) for the Cordilleras and Ilocos Region reported Saturday. In Abra, Lt. Col. Elias Escarcha, CRS group commander, said the mainstream New Peoples Army under Jovencio Balweg allegedly started collecting P1,000 to P3,000 from politicians in the towns of Malibcong and Bangilo. [full story]

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