. NEWS ROUNDUP .

MIGRANTE International's Middle East chapter yesterday said it is considering suing Malacañang and Philippine consulate officials in Saudi Arabia for the death of OFW Ryan Castillo due to harsh conditions in a deportation cell in Riyadh.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East regional coordinator, said Castillo, who was already ill when committed to the deportation facility, would have not died last April 6 if consulate officials in Saudi took immediate steps for his speedy repatriation.

Monterona said Migrante, on behalf of Castillo's family, is studying the criminal and administrative liability of government officials, including President Arroyo, in the case. He said they are also urging labor and foreign relations committees in Congress to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

Monterona said they are alarmed over the rising number of runaways and distressed OFWs in the Middle East, with an estimated 1,500 of them found in Jeddah, Riyadh, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

"The Arroyo administration and Philippine consulates abroad could expect more complaints and cases from OFWs in the coming months as this increasing numbers of runways is relative to the increase of Filipino workers deployed in the Middle East and as long as many foreign employers remain indifferent to the rights and welfare of its employed migrant workers," Monterona said. - Job T. Realubit

SUSPECTED communist rebels burned down a trailer truck ferrying bananas in Compostela province before dawn Saturday allegedly due to the owner's refusal to pay revolutionary taxes, the PNP reported yesterday.

The report to Camp Crame said 15 armed rebels blocked the path of the 40-footer container van (NUG-216) which was on its way to Davao City in Magsaysay village, Nabunturan town. The alleged NPAs ordered the driver and helpers out before pouring gasoline and setting the truck on fire. - Raymond Africa

THE Senate has endorsed for plenary debates Senate Bill 2116 that will expand the benefits of the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).

The bill is jointly sponsored by Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, Ramon Revilla Jr. Edgardo Angara and Manuel Lapid.

Mandated by Republic Act 7373, the SPES helps students 15 to 25 years old support themselves through gainful employment in private firms and public offices during summer and Christmas breaks. An expanded SPES will allow firms with at least 15 regular workers (from the previous 50 regular employes) to hire qualified students.

The bill also relaxes the annual family income ceiling for aspirants, and penalizes schools and bookstores that refuse to honor the government-issued vouchers for books and tuition.

Since 1993, SPES has benefited an average of 80,000 students a year. The bill will increase this number considerably. - JP Lopez

Fireworks go off prematurely

FIREWORKS intended for a celebration in Marikina City exploded prematurely over the weekend, damaging several structures including the city's central post office.

Supt. Sotero Ramos, city police chief, said the fireworks were intended for the Angkan-angkan Festival in the city and the reason for their explosion is still unclear. No one was hurt in the incident.

Witnesses said city hall employes were setting up the automated fireworks at a parking lot near the Rodriguez Sports Center when fireworks stored in one of the booths suddenly went off.

In Antipolo city, residents discovered several pieces of vintage bombs at a construction site of the new capitol building of Rizal province the other day.

Senior Supt. Ireneo Dordas, Rizal police chief, said the bombs were sent to the Crow Valley in Tarlac to be detonated. - Christian Oineza