President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) chief Maj Gen Ernesto Carolina as the next chief of the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

COTABATO CITY - Abu Muslim al Ghazie said to be the emerging No. 1 terrorist in Mindanao with P 5-million cash reward for his capture, dead or alive, was captured on May 8, 2002 by Task Force Cotabato said Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, incoming AFP chief of staff.

Ending days of speculation, President Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday named Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen Roy Cimatu as the next Armed Forces chief of staff.

Cabunbata, Isabela City- The man of the hour wore an ear-to-ear grin. " I am very happy and very much inspired," a beaming Southern Command chief Lt Gen Roy Cimatu told reporters yesterday, on his appointment as the 29th Armed forces chief of staff.

Clark Field, Pampanga - The two-week Balikatan 02-2 in Central Luzon and part of Manila Bay ended yesterday as both Philippine and U.S. military authorities have scheduled discussions on expanding the joint RP-US military exercises in Northern Luzon next year with some 5,000 American military personnel participating.

TABIAWAN ARMY BASE, Basilan (AP) - Armed Forces of the Philippines officials yesterday warned a group of reformed Muslim separatist rebels against supporting the extremist Abu Sayyaf group.

A Joint-Medical and Dental CIVAC activities were launched by the units of the 5ID, Philippine Army from March 28-29, 2002, April 6, 7, 12, 2002 and April 9-11, 2002 for the SRA-Integrated CIVAC/Army "CARES" Program. This project was conducted to deliver free services to the people and to foster and promote good working relationship with the local populace in the region. This program would also strengthen the commitment of the people to support the efforts of the government towards peace and development in Northern Luzon particularly in the provinces of Abra and Cagayan.

A Joint Medical and Dental CIVAC activities were conducted on March 2-5, 27-29, 2002 by units under the 5ID, Philippine Army. The civic action was conducted in support to the government's program of providing free services to the poor and needy population in the countryside and establish close and harmonious relationship with the community as well as enhancing its credibility as the protector of the people.

Zamboanga City - The fourth-highest leader of the Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf, who has been hiding in a costal village here while nursing wounds he suffered in a recent sea gun battle, was arrested late Friday.

TERNATE CAVITE, Republic of the Philippines (April 27, 2002) - Members of the U.S. and Philippine armed forces are working together to complete the construction of five Engineering Civil Action Projects by tomorrow as part of the joint and bilateral exercise Balikatan 2002-02.

ZAMBOANGA (AFP) - More than 40 Moslem separatist guerillas have surrendered to the military in two areas in Mindanao.

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have agreed to the final solution and interdiction of all criminal groups, "Lost Commands" and kidnapping syndicates operating in Mindanao.

Isang kumander ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at 46 sa kanyang matatapat na tauhan ang sumuko sa pamunuan ng Armed forces of the Philippines sa Barongis, Maguindanao.

The government is slowly winning the war against communist guerillas and other Muslim rebel groups in the countryside.