Aquino won’t let Philippine energy secretary quit

Philippine rebels vow to build 25,000-strong force

DAVAO: Philippine communist rebels vowed yesterday to intensify attacks against government troops and build a 25,000-strong guerrilla force, but the military mocked the target as unrealistic. New People's Army guerrillas marked the 45th founding anniversary of their underground party with a clandestine gathering at a mountain lair, where they invited journalists in southeastern Agusan del Sur province. A communist rebel statement urged the Maoist guerrillas to “wipe out enemy units and seize their weapons” and “increase the number of our Red fighters to 25,000”. Military spokesman Lt Col Ramon Zagala, however, said the rebels have been on a decline and would not achieve such a target due to problems such as the loss of community support and infighting.

Aquino rejects energy secretary’s resignation

MANILA: President Benigno Aquino III yesterday rejected the Philippine energy secretary’s offer to resign for failing to meet his self-imposed target to restore power in all typhoon-ravaged towns by Christmas Eve, an official said. Aquino instead praised Jericho Petilla for “excellent performance” for re-energising 317 of 320 towns that lost power after Typhoon Haiyan hit last month, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. It was originally estimated it would take up to six months to restore power but Petilla managed to do most of the work in 40 days.

China to triple relief for parents losing only child

BEIJING: China is to more than triple the amount of compensation that some parents get if their only child dies, the health and family planning agency said yesterday, in the latest sign of a more lenient stand on an uncompromising population policy. From next year, couples in cities who have lost their only child and in which the woman is 49 or older will get 340 yuan ($71) per parent a month, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said in a statement. Couples in rural areas will get 170 yuan per parent a month.

US drone strike in Pakistan kills 3 militants

ISLAMABAD: A suspected American drone fired two missiles at a home in a northwestern tribal region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, killing at least three foreign militants, Pakistani intelligence officials said yesterday. The latest strike took place just before midnight Wednesday.

Agencies