Painting from the Inner Spirit... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— After a three-month workshop, foreign and local artists in Davao City showcase their works in an exhibit at the Matina Town Square. The exhibit entitled, “Painting from the Inner Spirit,” allows the artists to express themselves freely, according to Ega...

Twelve days in the forest... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today BOSTON, DAVAO ORIENTAL— PO3 Alan Dapitanon said he was very nervous when the NPA held them at gunpoint in the checkpoint the NPA mounted in Pasian village in Monkayo, Davao del Norte. The NPA told them to drop to the ground so that nothing would happen to them. But since May...

Poll watcher killed in Maragusan attack,... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY– A poll watcher, two soldiers and two members of paramilitary groups were killed in a May 11 ambush by members of New People’s Army in Maragusan town, the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said. Captain Emmanuel Garcia,...

Lapu-lapu barangay tanods detain Nograle... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY—A supporter of House Speaker Prospero Nograles was detained at the Sta. Ana police station for alleged vote buying on the day of the elections. Antonio Maglonzo, a barangay tanod, said they caught Efren Noval, 59, at around 2 pm, giving “poll...

Arroyo neglects workers in the nine year... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY—From the day she took power in 2001 until she will step down in June, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo failed to act on the workers’ decade-long demand for a legislated P125 across-the-board wage increase, Romualdo Basilio, secretary- general of Kilusang Mayo...

Why Duterte endorses Aquino... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— On April 9, Mayor Duterte declared his support for Noynoy Aquino as President before a crowd that filled the entire Veteran’s rotunda on one end of Ponciano street. “I decided to support Noynoy Aquino for President,” Duterte said. “Aquino is easy to talk...

Nograles’ Folly: Entice Investors?... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— If elected mayor of Davao City, first district Congressman Prospero Nograles said he will make the business climate of Davao attractive to investors. In a mayoralty forum at the Ateneo de Davao University in March, Nograles said he sees the need to build roads and...

Thirteen Monkayo farmers tortured and de... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY — Thirteen farmers filed human rights complaints against the 25th Infantry Battalion for illegal detention and torture. They included Alfonso Mangubat and wife Baden; Anastacia Villaniso and her sons Emilio, Boicy and Roy and 15-year old grandchildren Mary Grace...

Teachers worry over delays on poll autom... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— A teacher’s group in the region is worried over the delays on the teachers’ scheduled training on poll automation. Gloria Arcenas, secretary-general of Kamkem-Alliance of Concerned Teachers, said teachers who will serve as Board of Election Inspectors in the...

Glitches seen during the Davao mock elec... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY—Three problems cropped up during the mock elections at the Generoso Elementary School in Bago Aplaya village in Davao City on February 6, Saturday. The first problem occurred when a ballot jammed inside the Precinct Count Optical Scanning machine (PCOS). Upon...

Police release gun ban violator implicat... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— A member of the military intelligence group implicated in the Rebelyn Pitao rape- slay case was caught violating the election gun ban. But police released Private First Class Edmar “Ben” Tipait, 50, a member of the military intelligence group after detaining...

Davao farmers root for the countrywide c... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— Winifreda Cabisay, 62, carried a placard during the kick-off ceremony of Lakbayan, a 10-day farmers’ caravan that will bring together farmers from as far as Davao in the south and Tarlac in the north to dramatize their age-old clamor for land and...

Farmers caravan to call for land and jus... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— The nationwide farmers’ caravan, calling for land and justice and urging people to oppose Charter change, will kick off on Tuesday in Davao City. Rep. Rafael Mariano of farmers’ partylist Anakpawis said that 7,000 farmers nationwide will join the 10-day caravan...

OFWs urged to invest in a virtual poultr... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— Just like in the cybergame Farmville on Facebook , overseas Filipino workers can now invest their hard-earned money in a virtual poultry farm and watch it grow on the internet. The Department of Trade and Industry recently launched the virtual poultry farm North...

Migrante bats for OFW protection... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY– Migrant workers and their families have asked the government to protect every Filipino worker abroad. “The overseas foreign workers are called ‘modern day heroes’ but the government has failed to provide for their welfare,” said Gina Garboni,...

A son’s Christmas wish... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— If Christmas wishes could be granted, Bayan Intise, 25, wanted to see his father and mother again. His father, Federico and mother Nelly were last seen on October 26 three years ago in Purok Puting Bato in Barangay Calumpang in General Santos City, where his father...

Government’s counterinsurgency takes o... By JOSE HERNANI and GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today MONKAYO, COMPOSTELA VALLEY— Militant groups marched the coffin of Conrado Cañete, 57, the slain father of a commander of the New People’s Army, around the town of Monkayo on December 9 before bringing it to the cemetery for burial. Activists interpreted his...

Military blames a farmer and his sons fo... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— A farmer and his sons said they’ve been beaten and forced to admit they were members of the New People’s Army by soldiers who picked them up near the landmine explosion site in Paquibato. “Bisan unsaon mi og kulata, wala mi ikatug-an kay dili mi NPA (No...

Duterte father and daughter team up agai... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— The much-awaited showdown between Davao’s two fiercest political opponents begins as Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and daughter Sara Duterte formally declared a team up against House Speaker Prospero Nograles’ bid for mayor in the city. Vice Mayor Sara Duterte, who...

Nograles runs for mayor in Davao City... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY—Just as everyone had predicted, House Speaker Prospero Nograles finally declared he is running for mayor in Davao City, a post that incumbent mayor Rodrigo Duterte had held for years. GUESS, NO MORE. House Speaker Prospero Nograles finally declares his bid to run...

After the Maguindanao carnage, Davao Cit... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— Following the pre-election violence in Maguindanao that killed 57 people, the city council of Davao wanted to impose an early gun ban to prevent the violence from spilling over to the city. “The violence in Maguindanao happened because some people freely move...

Retired general’s ‘meddling’ irks ... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY— Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte was furious at a retired general for telling him “what to do” with the Left. Reporters who covered the release of the soldier earlier captured by the New People’s Army (NPA) found the mayor fuming mad against a certain...

Freed NPA prisoner to answer for his ... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today MONTEVISTA, COMPOSTELA VALLEY—Released New People’s Army prisoner Corporal Dominador Alegre said he will face whatever sanctions his higher command will impose for the successful NPA raid in his Monkayo detachment that led to his capture three weeks ago. “Whatever they...

Davao politicians gear up for elections... By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today DAVAO CITY– Months before the official start of the campaign period, the sons and daughters of Davao City’s top political clans are already wooing potential voters for the 2010 elections. Sara distributes rice, noodles and canned goods in Calinan. (photo by the City...