The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) assigned another team to beef up the investigation of the death of Trinidad Arteche-Etong, wife of broadcaster Ted Failon.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – One of the nine hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan was released Monday (April 20) after almost two weeks in captivity, officials said. Ernald Jace Chavez, a 23-year-old farmer, was abandoned by his captors in a small hut in Barangay Magkawa in Al-barka town after police intelligence operatives raided the area, according to Superintendent Danilo Bacas, spokesman of the regional police of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Fewer Filipino families consider themselves “mahirap” or poor, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The First Quarter 2009 Social Weather Survey, fielded over Feb. 20 to 23, showed 47 percent of Filipino families (about 8.7 million) consider themselves as poor, 27 percent put themselves on the “Borderline” and 26 percent consider themselves as “Hindi Mahirap” or not poor.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim awarded Tuesday (April 21) P1 million to Nonito Donaire and Brian Viloria for their amazing victories in last Sunday’s twin title fights at the Araneta Coliseum.
Saying the two fighters’ victories over Mexican rivals brought so much honor for the Filipinos and the nation, Lim gave Donaire and Viloria P500,000 cash each during the press conference after they were feted in a motorcade around the city.

LOS ANGELES – Even Raul “Cobra” Martinez, who lost in his bid to dethrone Filipino champion Nonito Donaire Jr. last Sunday (April 19) in Manila, thinks that Manny Pacquiao is just too strong for Ricky Hatton.