MANILA, Dec. 10, 2009—A Catholic Church official has called on President Arroyo to impose martial in Basilan province too.

Bishop Martin Jumoad of Isabela in the violence-torn southern Philippines sees the move be an effective measure in the war against crime.

MANILA, Dec. 10, 2009— Close to 6,000 priests and bishops nationwide are expected to gather for the 2nd National Congress of the Clergy from January 25-29, 2010 at the World Trade Center, in Pasay City.

Fr. Raniero Cantalamesa, OFM Cap, Papal Preacher to the late Pope John Paul II and the present Pope Benedict XVI, will be the Spiritual Retreat Preacher of the congress. His talk will center on the theme of the Year for Priests: “Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests.”

LEGASPI City, Dec. 10, 2009— The transfer of Masbate Bishop Joel Z. Baylon to the Diocese of Legazpi brought sadness to his parishioners. But, the diocesan clergy suffered another blow when one of its priests died December 8 in a motorcycle accident along the National Highway at Barangay Cayabon, Milagros, Masbate.

The fatality was identified as Fr. Norman Crisostomo De Jesus, popularly known as “Father Aga,” 38 years old and pioneer parish priest of a newly-created parish in Calumpang, Balud, Masbate.

QUEZON City, Dec 10, 2009— President Arroyo must be sued for treason as former military general admitted that some of the weapons recovered from the Ampatuans were government's, a militant group said.

In the series of raids conducted by the joint forces of the police and military after the Maguindanao carnage just a few weeks ago, high powered guns and ammunitions allegedly used to slaughter 57 people, including members of the media, were recovered to the Ampatuans' mansions and safe houses.

LEGAZPI City, Dec. 9, 2009—The Province of Albay, famous for its Mayon Volcano, is in the thick of preparations to welcome its sixth bishop, the 55-year old Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, in fitting liturgical reception and canonical installation at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral at 4:00 P.M. tomorrow.

The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales will lead about 30 other bishops from across the country.

MANILA, Dec. 9, 2009— “Family and Life issues will be a major consideration in choosing public officials in the coming 2010 elections and this will be an opportune time to bring public awareness to the moral dimensions of the electoral issues,” this was part of the resolution formulated during the recently-concluded First National Conference of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life.

With its appropriate working theme “The Family Serving the Church and Society”, the conference was held from November 30 to December 3, 2009 at the St. Michael Retreat House in Antipolo City.

MANILA, Dec. 9, 2009—A Catholic Church-backed poll watchdog is objecting the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao province until the May 2010 elections.

According to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), military rule “in any form and in any place” is the very thing that it doesn’t want to happen during election period.