DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/09 March) –  A New People’s Army leader in Mindanao laughed off claims by the military it could lick the rebel group by 2010 and even taunted Eastern Mindanao Command chief, Maj. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer to lead combat operations in the hinterlands.

Leoncio Pitao, a.k.a. Commander Parago and leader of the 1st Pulang Bagani Command, said the government was hallucinating when it gave a deadline to the military given the country’s situation.

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/01 March) – For one year, Catholics attending the daily and Sunday masses here will recite “on bended knees” after the Holy Communion, an Oratio Imperata (obligatory prayer) for the city’s healing “in view of the unabated series of summary killings” here.

In his Circular 04 dated February 24, 2009, Archbishop Fernando Capalla said the Oratio Imperata – Prayer for healing of our people - should be recited “personally and as a community” for one year starting Ash Wednesday on February 25.

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / Nov 23) - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office here has welcomed the plan of legislators to clothe the institution with power to prosecute violators of human rights.