highly urbanized city in Metro Manila through ratification of Republic Act 9387 which was approved on March 10. June 27 – El Salvador becomes a city in the province of Misamis Oriental through ratification of Republic Act 9438 which was approved on April 12. July July 1 – Carcar becomes a city in the province of Cebu through ratification of Republic Act 9436 which was approved on April 15. July 11 – Fourteen members of the Philippine Marines were found beheaded after an encounter against Islamic rebels in the province of Basilan. July 14 Guihulngan becomes a city in the province of Negros Oriental through ratification of Republic Act 9409 which was approved on March 24. Tayabas becomes a city in the province of Quezon through ratification of Republic Act 9398 which was approved on March 18. July 27 – The Department of Agriculture declares an outbreak of hog cholera at the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan. July 28 – Cabadbaran becomes a city in the province of Agusan del Norte through ratification of Republic Act 9434 which was approved on April 12. August August 28 – Exiled Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison is arrested at Utrecht, Netherlands. September September 2 – Naga becomes a city in the province of Cebu through ratification of Republic Act 9491 which was approved on July 15. September 12 – The Sandiganbayan convicts former president Joseph Estrada for plunder and sentence him to reclusion perpetua while acquitting him and his co-accused on other charges. October October 19 – An explosion at the Glorietta mall in Makati kills 11 and injures at over a hundred. October 25 – Former President Joseph Estrada is pardoned and free from jail after his trial. October 29 – Philippines starts the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. November November 13 – An explosion at the Philippine House of Representatives building in Quezon City kills four people, including Congressman Wahab Akbar. November 29 – The Armed Forces of the Philippines lays siege to The Peninsula Manila after soldiers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV stage a mutiny. Holidays On November 13, 2002, Republic Act No. 9177 declares Eidul Fitr as a regular holiday. The EDSA Revolution Anniversary was proclaimed since 2002 as a special non-working holiday. Note that in the list, holidays in bold are "regular holidays" and those in italics are "nationwide special days". January