Philippines

Philippine shares up 2.08 per cent on Wall Street gains

Philippine shares up 2.08 per cent on Wall Street gainsManila  - Philippine share prices rose 2.08 per cent on Thursday on the back of Wall Street's overnight gains despite lower growth forecasts for the domestic economy.

The 30-share composite index of the Philippine Stock Exchange gained 42.17 points to close at 2,064.66 from Wednesday's finish of 2,022.49.

Gainers swamped losers 85 to 24, while 29 issues were unchanged. A total of 2.08 billion shares worth 2.64 billion pesos (55 million dollars) were traded.

Philippines closely monitors kidnapped Filipino seamen in Somalia

Philippines closely monitors kidnapped Filipino seamen in Somalia Manila - The Philippine government is closely monitoring the condition of 120 Filipino seamen being held by pirates in hijacked ships off Somalia, a senior official said Wednesday.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Philippines is also planning to prohibit the deployment of Filipino seamen on ships that would pass through the African country's dangerous waters.

Philippines to immunize half a million children this year

PhilippinesManila - The Philippines on Wednesday launched a programme to immunize about half a million children below 5 years of age this year, to help prevent child deaths from illnesses which kill some 82,000 children every year. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the government allocated 36.4 million pesos (75,800 dollars) to the immunization programme, as part of the "save a child" strategy of the Department of Health.

Philippine police probed for neglect on drug-related cases

Philippine police probed for neglect on drug-related cases Manila - About 100 police officers were facing administrative investigation for failing to attend court hearings on drug-related cases, a police spokesman said Wednesday. Chief superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said the officers may be suspended or dismissed from service if proven that they neglected their duty to attend court hearings, resulting in the dismissal of criminal charges against suspected drug pushers.

Family of six killed in the southern Philippines

Family of six killed in the southern Philippines Manila - A family of six, including four children, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen who burned their house in a southern Philippine city in a bid to hide the crime, a regional police chief said Tuesday. Chief Superintendent Danilo Empredrad said the attack occurred before dawn Sunday while the family was asleep inside the house on the outskirts of Gingoog City in Agusan del Norte province, 795 kilometres south of Manila.

Empredad said the assailants barged into the house and shot the victims before burning the house.

Abu Sayyaf rebels kill one hostage in southern Philippines

Abu Sayyaf rebels kill one hostage in southern Philippines Zamboanga City, Philippines - Muslim militants killed one of two hostages they seized in a southern Philippine province last week, a regional marines spokesman said Monday. Captain Neil Torres said government troops recovered on Sunday the body of Cosme Aballes, one of two people seized last Friday by Abu Sayyaf rebels in the outskirts of Lamitan City in Basilan province, 900 kilometres south of Manila.

Torres said the head of the victim was nearly torn from his body when the government troops recovered him.

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