Manila  - Hundreds of fans packed a local church in the Philippine capital on Wednesday when boxing icon Manny Pacquiao heard a thanksgiving mass after an upset win against Mexican-American legend Oscar De la Hoya on the weekend.

Pacquiao arrived in Manila before dawn on Wednesday, four days after forcing to submission the 35-year-old De la Hoya, known as the Golden Boy of American boxing, to quit in the eighth of their 12-round fight in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"I hope Manny would give us a few hundred pesos," said 17-year-old Marlon Tapia, who was among hundreds who trooped to Quiapo Church in downtown Manila to welcome Pacquiao. "He is my idol. He is the greatest."

Manila  - A Philippine human rights organization on Tuesday decried unabated political killings and other attacks against leftist activists in the country despite the government's assurances to end the atrocities.

In its annual human rights report, Karapatan said the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had failed to fulfill its promises to the international community that it would protect human rights in the country.

Zamboanga City, Philippines  - Suspected Muslim militants freed seven construction workers they seized a week ago on a southern Philippine island, a regional military spokeswoman said Tuesday.

First Lieutenant Esteffani Cacho said the victims were released unharmed on Monday in Tuburan town in Basilan province, 900 kilometres south of Manila.

Cacho said the hostages were turned over to the emissaries of Lamitan town Mayor Roderick Furigay, who negotiated for their release.

No ransom was paid for the release of the hostages who were undergoing debriefing in a military camp in Basilan, according to Cacho.

The construction workers were seized on December 2 while hauling beach sand in the town of Mohammad Ajul.

Zamboanga City, Philippines  - Five soldiers and 12 Muslim rebels were killed in separate clashes in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokeswoman said Monday.

Fighting broke out Sunday between government troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters, backed by al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels in Albarka town, Basilan province, 900 kilometres south of Manila.

Manila  - The Philippines on Sunday hailed the stunning victory of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao over Oscar De La Hoya, who gave up after the eighth round for their "Dream Match."

Filipinos watching the fight all over the country erupted in celebration De La Hoya's corner threw in the towel before the start of the ninth round.

De La Hoya's left eye was closed shut after the eighth round, prompting the ring doctor, referee and his cornermen to decide that he had enough.

"You're still my idol," Pacquiao told De La Hoya after the fight in Las Vegas.

"No, you're my idol," De La Hoya said.

Manila - Seventeen people, including a 7-year-old girl, were killed in a running gunbattle between police officers and suspected robbers in the Philippine capital, a police report said Saturday.