Marie Roxanne “Plinky” Recto did not get her 3-year-old son back for Christmas, and it is not certain that she will have him by New Year's Eve.

This is because Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña yesterday told the DAILY STAR that with all due respect to the Supreme Court, he cannot as of yet turn his son over to Recto until he can be assured of his safety because of a rebel kidnapping threat.

Peña maintained that he and his son remain out of the country and that he has instructed his lawyer to file a motion for reconsideration with prayer to stay the transfer of his son to the movie actress and television talk show host, as ordered by the Supreme Court.

5 killed, 2 injured
on Christmas day
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The celebration of Christmas Day in Negros Occidental was marred with violent incidents that claimed the lives of five persons, including a barangay kagawad, and caused injuries to two others. But the police called the day generally peaceful.

Three of the five were killed in shooting incidents in Kabankalan City , Manapla and Moises Padilla, while the two others died in a vehicular accident, and in accidental firing incident in Isabela, Negros Occidental, police records show.

Allan Carl Labonete, 28, died from a shot in the right eyebrow by an unidentified gunman in Hacienda Viaren, Brgy. Linao, Kabankalan City .

Ceasefire holding
in W. Visayas
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

CAMP LAPU-LAPU, Cebu City – A remote municipal police station in Samar was attacked by suspected New People's Army rebels, who killed a former militiaman despite the yuletide truce, which appeared to be holding in Western and Central Visayas islands, military and police said.

Despite the four-day ceasefire being observed by the CPP-NPA, Maj. Gen. Victor Ibrado, AFP Central Command chief stressed the need for government troops to be more vigilant, citing the attack in Samar .

The Communist Party of the Philippines , that marked its 39 th founding anniversary yesterday, ordered all cadres and members to “accelerate tactical offensives” against government forces.