Tuesday, August 16, 2005 (Philippines)

Swat men conduct an assault drill as part of the annual general inspection of the local police force by inspectors from Camp Crame. The inspection started yesterday, covering the capability of local units in rescuing hostages and arresting crime suspects.(Sun.star photo/Allan Defensor) Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is set to issue a more informative and bolder pastoral letter against the plan to divide Cebu into separate provinces. “It is to prepare our people if a plebiscite is to be made on the proposal,” Cebu Archdiocesan media liaison officer Msgr. Achilles Dakay said in a phone interview last night. Despite the insistence of Reps. Simeon Kintanar (2nd district), Antonio Yapha Jr. (3rd district) and Clavel Martinez (4th district) that their move is beneficial to their constituents, Vidal has refused to support them and, instead, described their move as “evil.” [full story]