MANILA, Sept. 7, 2010—An arch critic of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo said he cannot wait to see the former president testify in the graft trial against one of her officials implicated on the botched multi-million dollar national broadband network (NBN) project.

MANILA, Sept. 7, 2010—An anti-gambling prelate claims jueteng protectors has joined the maneuver to oust Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Jesse Robredo.

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said jueteng protectors who are holding key positions in the government are leading the calls for the DILG chief’s resignation.

MANILA, Sept. 6, 2010— The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines warned against finger pointing on who should be blamed for the bloody turnout of the Aug. 23 hostage crisis, arguing that it would only complicate the situation.

MANILA, Sept. 6, 2010—It has been a year since the brutal murder of Father Cecilio Lucero, a staunch human rights defender in the Diocese of Catarman.

And for his fellow priests, still no justice.

Lucero was killed in an ambush by some 30 unidentified armed men while he was on his way to Catarman from his parish in Catubig in Northern Samar September 6, 2009.

MANILA, Sept. 6, 2010— A Catholic bishop has backed government’s efforts for a strengthened campaign against littering in Metro Manila.

The Metro Manila Development Authority is considering the reimplementation of the Anti-Littering Law that has been dormant for years.

MANILA, Sept. 6, 2010—An international migrants watchdog has expressed alarm on the death of prisoners in Saudi jails due to suffocation because of overcrowding in prison cells.

Migrante Middle East said five Ethiopian prisoners in Jizan had choked to death inside Saudi’s overcrowded jails.