THE Philippines needs to relocate more than half of the people living in coastal areas as they face tsunamis and disasters linked to climate change, according to a marine biologist.

Former environment secretary Angel Alcala, a marine biologist, who delivered the keynote address of the launching of the United Nations State of World Population on Wednesday said the Philippines has four tsunami areas where the “Earth’s lithospheric plates are [constantly] interacting.”

DAVAO CITY—New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas killed two members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographic Unit (Cafgu) here on Tuesday afternoon.

The militiamen were not armed at the time.

Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the Army’s 10th Infantry “Agila” Division based in this city, identified the fatalities as Benjamin Tayo and Joel Adang, both Cafgu active auxilliaries being supervised by the 72nd Infantry Battalion.

THE Armed Forces leadership downplayed on Wednesday the reported plot by members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1978 to wrest control of the armed services, a move that is reportedly being supported by Malacañang, whose alleged goal is to scuttle next year’s elections.

Gen. Victor Ibrado, Armed Forces chief of staff, said the reported “Oplan August Moon” that is supposed to be implemented next month, is an “old issue that was concocted by some people who just wanted to make some noise.”