Tuesday, May 24, 2005 (Philippines)

Residents of Barangay Lucatin, Tarragona, Davao Oriental pose with their boat operated by Rudy Abayon who was declared champion in the open category of the First Lumbangka, a race of fishing boats, held at Times Beach as part of the city's celebration of the Ocean Month. (Sun.Star Davao/Seth Delos Reyes) THE 22-year-old female student killed in a gun battle in Bukidnon on May 14 was actually a hostage and not a member of the communist group New People's Army, a former rebel said recently. Mario (surname withheld), a member of the Pulang Bagani Command 1 uner Kumander Parago, said he was with Jane Quintos for more than a month before she was killed. [full story]