of thousands of Filipinos led by Cardinal Sin, in Luneta Park, Manila. August 27 – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels hold 8 South Koreans and 30 Filipinos, all working at the construction site of a government's irrigation project in Mindanao, claiming that it intrudes on their territory; hostages are released, Sep 4, following negotiations. August 29 – A coal mine explosion in Malangas, then part of Zamboanga del Sur, kills 119 people in what would be the country's deadliest mine disaster. September September 1–5 – The government and the Moro National Liberation Front sign a ceasefire agreement, aiming to end guerrilla war. September 4 – Unidentified men abduct traders Sixto Escudero, Sr. in M'lang, Cotabato and Jorge Lim and his two children in General Santos; victims were rescued later by the authorities. September 15 – The Manila RTC, through a temporary restraining order, stops an order from Malacañang disallowing jai alai. September 23 – A mudslide in Mount Pinatubo, triggered by heavy rains a day prior, reportedly kills 20, with 3 missing. Debris flowed include lahars that were released by an eruption in 1991. October October – Rebel group MILF attack towns in North Cotabato, wherein they burn a church and 10 houses in Aleosan, and take hostage 26 civilians in Kabacan, which are freed later on. Within this month, series of terror attacks in the province result in the death of 50 people from both the rebel and government side and displace thousands from four municipalities; are prevented upon ceasefire by end of the month. November November – Graft charges are filed against dismissed Bureau of Immigration and Deportation chief Zafiro Respicio and 2 others regarding anomalous deportation of 11 Indians facing drug charges in court. November 14 – Atty. Eugene Tan, former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and his driver are abducted by six armed men in Muntinlupa and killed in Silang, Cavite; their bodies will be found four days later in neighboring Dasmariñas. In 2011, the Cavite RTC would only convict the gunman, sentencing to reclusión perpetua, and acquit all other involved. November 15 – An earthquake (Magnitude: 7.1 Mw) followed by huge waves ravages Mindoro, killing at least 65 people and injuring more than 130 others. December December 2 – Inter-island ship MV Cebu City and Singapore-registered freighter Kota Suria collide in Manila Bay, between Corregidor Island and Maragondon, Cavite, killing more