Friday, December 23, 2005 (Philippines)

Lumads, who trooped to Davao City proper to carol or beg for alms during the holiday season, are being ferried by City Government trucks back to their respective villages after days of seeking refuge at Bankerohan covered court, which served as their temporary shelter. (Sun.Star Davao/Rene B. Lumawag) ARMY soldiers seized several board feet of lawaan lumber in Mawab, Compostela Valley on Tuesday during a hot pursuit operation against the rebels who killed four soldiers in Tagum City earlier that day. Army soldiers led by 1st Lieutenant Julius Villena intercepted a truckload of lawaan lumbers estimated at 2,700 board feet along the Mawab-Tagum highway. [full story]