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By Riza Lozada Despite the country being a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the worst forms of child labor exist locally, with the most glaring incidence of violation involving the use of drugs for minors to withstand 16 hours of work in mining areas, based on a European Union-commissioned study.

Saying it wants a “factual, truthful report clear of bias,” the Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO) has strongly called for an “independent commission to investigate the Maguindanao operation” that led to an alleged “mis-encounter” with Muslim rebels, leaving 44 dead police commandos mobilized to arrest two most wanted terrorists.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said Sunday it “is the duty of the state to give you the full support, equipment and training and not to send you into hopeless operations.”

Lito Gagni /   Special to The Market Monitor Shares of mass-housing developer 8990 Holdings soared more than 30 percent last week mirroring the record close of the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEI), which hit 7,689.91 points, as foreign investors entered the Philippines market in a big way.

On a list of 300 urban centers of the world, the city of Manila was ranked 139th in terms of prosperity and employment generation last year, based on a joint study of The Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase.

Riza Lozada The falling prices of crude oil have prompted several institutions to suggest ways to exploit this to the advantage of the economy. The World Bank (WB) has recommended to the government the imposition of higher taxes on the rich through an increase in the excise tax on gasoline that private cars use.

Teresa Cerojano / Associated Press Manila—When the Pope comes to town, a big bill awaits the host country, but the mammoth crowds whipped up by the Roman Catholic Church leader also offer plenty of good business.

“Keep the flame of faith alive in your hearts. Walk away as children of the light,” Francis intoned in his homily. He ended the Mass with the devotees holding lighted candles in the damp air. The Pontiff, a lighted candle flickering behind a glass case in his right arm, gave his final blessing in English in a symbolic gesture after …

It was a revealing moment of genuine inspiration. So moved by the tears of an abandoned child, who broke down and could not finish her prepared welcome speech, an emotional Pope Francis told an audience of youth on Sunday the world must “learn how to cry” over the plight of the millions of poor, hungry, homeless and abused children.

He just couldn’t help it—the endless blaming game. While Pope Francis listened intently on his earphones, minutes away from delivering his first speech during his five-day apostolic visit, President Aquino went hammer and thongs at unnamed members of the clergy—“once advocates of the poor, the marginalized and the helpless,” he said, but whom he accused of silence allegedly during the …