Sunday, April 22, 2007 (Philippines)

Fishermen head out to catch crabs at a depleted mangrove swamp, now the object of a massive replanting program by the government at Prieto Diaz town in Sorsogon Province. As they commemorate Earth Day today, environmental groups are aiming for massive public awareness, especially on the pressing issue of global warming.(AP photo) A CEBU City court official was suspended for a year for his alleged “overzealousness” to carry out the demolition of a private property. Edmundo Barriga of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) was also fined P20,000, with a “stern warning” that a similar offense will be dealt with more severely in the future. “We are not included to impose the extreme penalty of dismissal from service in view of respondent’s 33 years of government service,” the Supreme Court (SC) said in the ruling promulgated by the High Court’s 1st Division, chaired by Chief Justice Reynato Puno, last Thursday. Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 [full story]