A man scoops rice that fell from a broken plastic bag at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Manila Monday. The government plans to introduce "rice access cards" that poor consumers can use to buy cheaper subsidized supplies. (AP Photo)
MANILA -- The Sandiganbayan First Division issued late Monday afternoon an arrest warrant against former justice secretary Hernando Perez and two others over a graft and extortion case.
The case was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman last April 18 against Perez, his wife Rosario, and two business associates Ernest Escaler and Ramon Antonio Arceo Jr. over allegations that they extorted US$2 million from businessman and former Manila Representative Mark Jimenez in 2001.
CEBU CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered Sunday the immediate transport of government-subsidized rice to Cebu City's mountain barangays after Mayor Tomas Osmeña complained that urban poor families there have access only to rice that cost P40 a kilo.
DAVAO CITY -- Two girls aged six and nine were hit in the crossfire of the gun battle between government troops and the New People's Army (NPA) that resulted in the death of four soldiers at a remote village in Monkayo, Compostela Valley on Saturday.
ILOILO CITY -- Following the recent controversies hounding the medical profession, Representative Janette Garin of the first district of Iloilo is pushing Monday to declare the Physicians Act of 2008 as "urgent".
