Thursday, March 17, 2005 (Philippines)

Inmates at the Cebu provincial jail say that 14 of them have cases of swelling that start on the feet and eventually spread to the waist. They blame sightings of a black cat or a black dog and even of a white spot on the floor for the illnesses and deaths at the jail.(Sun.star photos/Alex Badayos) Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal recognizes the separation of church and state, but when it comes to the value-added tax (VAT) increase, he cannot help but take a stand. “The church makes a moral judgment about economic and social matters when fundamental rights of the person or the salvation of souls require it,” Vidal said in a message read before anti-VAT rallyists yesterday. More than 25 cause-oriented groups from all over Cebu gathered at Fuente Osmeña to protest the proposed two percent increase in VAT, making it 12 percent. [full story]