Thursday, December 09, 2004 (Philippines)

Ryu Yamazaki, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japanese Embassy, receives the official token from Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte during the envoy's courtesy call at City Hall Wednesday. (Sun.Star Davao/Rene B. Lumawag) DAVAO City Representative Prospero "Boy" Nograles asked Wednesday the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conduct lifestyle check on its officials assigned in Mindanao. Calling on DENR Secretary Michael Defensor to initiate such move, Nograles said he has been receiving persistent reports of massive corruption among regional and provincial environment officials assigned in various Mindanao regions where logging operations are unabated. [full story]