MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.
(PDP-Laban) today urged the Armed Forces of the
Philippines to conduct a no-nonsense investigation
into the ?accidental? killing of a nine-year old
village girl during an encounter between government
troops and communist guerillas in Compostela Valley
and to identify the soldiers responsible for the
tragedy.
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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY? The Arroyo administration affirms its strong thrust to
support small farmers, fisherfolks and agricultural producers of Mindanao as
it lines up projects to improve agricultural productivity in the
island-region and ensure food sustainability in the country.
DAVAO CITY — ?Exactly one month after the death of 9-year old Grecil Buya Galacio, an independent investigation has yet to commence,? lamented Alphonse Rivera, Spokesperson of SALINLAHI Alliance for Children?s Concerns. Grecil was killed by members of the 28th and 67th IB in New Bataan, Compostella Valley last March 31, 2007. She was initially branded as a ?child soldier? by the military which was later forced to retract their statement after the family and Salinlahi presented evidences proving otherwise.
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DAVAO CITY — KABIBA Alliance of Children?s Concerns in Mindanao, a coalition of 51 child-focused and child-friendly groups, commended today Sen. Pia Cayetano for supporting the clamor on the conduct of an impartial autopsy on the remains of Grecil Buya whom the military misrepresented as NPA ?child combatant?
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MANILA — The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released the Special 301 Report, placing the Philippines and 29 other trading partners on the ?lower level watch list?. After staying on the priority watch list of the report for five successive years since 2001, the Philippines was relegated to the ordinary watch list in 2006.