Haircuts to help trim rebel support

DASOL, Philippines - Policemen in a remote village have been giving out free haircuts as part of a program to prevent young boys from joining rebel groups.

For a day this month, the officers became barbers, teachers, lecturers and book donors for 120 school children in Dasol in western Pangasinan, north of Metro Manila.

Members of the Ilocos Regional Police Safety Battalion traveled at dawn last week from their base in San Fernando City in La Union province and reached the Tambac Elementary School here at 8 am, just as students had entered their classrooms.