Stories first posted at 7:30 am Monday Nov. 27, 2012

“Abu Sayyaf man arrested

Sunday, 25 November 2012 00:00 (from zamboangatoday.ph)

“A suspected member of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in kidnappings in Western Mindanao was arrested by joint police and military operatives in Barangay Tulungatung, this city, the other day.”

“Arrested was identified as Alexander Antonio y Son alias Tuma, 25, and presently residing at Urban Poor, Tulungatung.     xxx

“The accused was allegedly involved in the 2002 kidnapping of the 6 Jehovah’s Witness members in Sulu, wherein two kidnap victims were beheaded.

“He is also placed under investigation for his possible involvement in the Flordeliza Ongchua kidnapping incident last November 13, 2012 in Purok 5, Barangay Labuan, this city.”

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“25 unclaimed cadavers buried

(from sunstar.com.ph) by Bong Garcia Sunday, November 25, 2012

“THE City Government of Zamboanga has laid to rest in a mass burial the remains of 25 unclaimed and unidentified people including two babies stored at a local funeral parlor for almost a year.

“The mass burial, which was held at the government-owned cemetery in the village of Talabaan, was jointly organized by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and City Health Office (CHO).

“The burial was done following appropriate blessing rites officiated by a Catholic priest, an Imam and a Christian protestant, according to Evelyn Las Marias, officer-in-charge of the CSWDO.

“Of the 25 cadavers, 21 were male adults, two were adult female while two were babies, who were either found dead in various sites or we left unattended at local hospital, Las Marias said.

“The cadavers’ cause of death varies and included gunshot wounds, stabbing, old age or natural death and still born among others, Las Marias said. xxx”

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“Domestic violence against women, children rising in Phl

philstar.com) | Updated November 26, 2012 – 11:03pm

“MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – Domestic violence committed against women and children have been increasing in the Philippines, a senior government official said today.

“Citing the record of the Women and Children Protection Center of the Philippine National Police, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said that in 2011, some 15,104 cases of domestic violence were reported.

“The 2011 figure is 5,619 cases more than the 2010 figure of 9, 485 cases, she said, adding that for 2012, some 12,948 cases were recorded covering January to August.

“One out of five women, aged 15-49, has experienced physical violence, 14.4 percent of married women have suffered physical abuse from their husbands; 37 percent of separated or widowed women have experienced physical violence, Soliman also said, quoting the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the National Statistics Office. xxx

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“Vietnam refuses to stamp new Chinese passports over map

(from  bbc.co.uk)

“Vietnamese officials are refusing to stamp new Chinese passports bearing a map that lays claim to disputed areas.

“Border authorities have instead been issuing visas on separate pieces of paper and stamping those issued previously as invalid.

“Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan have objected to the map because it shows disputed islands in the South China Sea to be a part of China. Xxxxxx                                   xxx                                           xxx

“More Facebook friends = more stress, poll findsby Tim Hornyak  November 26, 2012 1:58 PM PST from news.cnet.com

“xxxA report by the University of Edinburgh Business School has found that increasing friends — specifically different groups of friends — increases the potential for stress.   xxx

“  “Stress arises when a user presents a version of [herself or himself] on Facebook that is unacceptable to some of their online ‘friends,’ such as posts displaying behavior such as swearing, recklessness, drinking, and smoking,” the university said in a release.

“  “The more social circles a person is linked to online the more likely social media will be a source of stress.”  “

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