BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES

LANAO DEL SUR -- The United Nations Children’s Fund and the provincial government of Lanao del Sur have fused ranks to sustain children’s welfare and protection from conflicts.Thousands of children were affected by last year’s five-month conflict in Marawi City that combined Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists instigated.Marawi City is the capital of Lanao del Sur, which has 39 towns and a component-province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.In a statement Monday, the office of Lanao del Sur Gov.

COTABATO CITY -- Residents of Basilan want the model Yakan village here duplicated in their island province as an icon oftheir zeal to bounce back from conflicts and underdevelopment.The model Yakan, Tausug, Maguindanao, Sama and Maranaw villages inside the 32-hectare regional capitol here of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were built as showcases of the cultural pluralism in ARMM.Barangay captains from Lamitan City, capital of Basilan, hosted this week the activities in the Yakan village, open daily to domestic and foreign tourists.The barangay officials told reporters Saturday th

COTABATO CITY – The provincial government of Maguindanao has treated close to 400 elderly residents led by four centenarians in belated observance of the national Elder Pilipino Week (EFW). Host officials led by Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu held a festive gathering for 390 elderly residents from 26 of 26 towns in Maguindanao, providing them physical support devices, cash incentives and other goodies in the provincial capital town of Buluan on Nov.

Nine more members of outlawed BIFF surrender in Maguindanao MAGUINDANAO - Nine more members of a notorious Islamic State-inspired bloc pledged allegiance to the Philippine flag on Friday.The militants, led by Parido Balabagan, also known as Commander Banog, belong to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, blamed for all the deadly bombings in central Mindanao since 2010.They yielded voluntarily to the Army’s 6thInfantry Division through the intercession of officials of the 33rdInfantry Battalion led by Lt. Col.

COTABATO CITY – Vice President Maria Leonor Leni Robredo led the awarding ceremony of the winning 10 youth organizations in this year’s Angat Buhay Youth – ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Summit competition on Thursday, October 25, at this city’s Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex.Robredo was assisted by ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, Cabinet Secretary John Louie Balagot and Office of the Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (OBYA-ARMM) Executive Director Nizam Pabil.During the ceremony, Robredo emphasized the vital role of the youth in nation-building.

MAGUINDANAO - The military on Wednesday destroyed hundreds of unlicensed firearms collected in recent months under a decommissioning program meant to boost the southern Mindanao peace process.The symbolic disposal of the seized firearms in Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao was led by Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of the Army’s 6thInfantry Division, Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega of the Western Mindanao Commandand Maguindanao Gov.

COTABATO CITY – The roadshow aimed at raising public awareness on the proposed shift to a federal form of government has started in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

COTABATO CITY - The couple whose leadership was thrice cited for good governance in the past three years is again seeking reelection for mayor and vice mayor of Lamitan City unopposed.Rose Furigay and spouse Roderick are aspiring for their third and last terms as mayor and vice mayor there, respectively.They both acknowledged on Thursday the role of their political principals, Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and his older brother, Basilan Gov.

LANAO DEL SUR --- The United States government on Tuesday promised $25 million for the rehabilitation of the conflict-wracked Marawi City.US Ambassador Sung Kim announced the support package during his visit to Marawi City on Tuesday.He and local officials have agreed to continue cooperation in restoring normalcy in the conflict-torn Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur.While in Marawi City, the ambassador had a dialogue with Mayor Majul Gandamra and Lanao del Sur Gov.

COTABATO CITY -- Three prominent regional figures vocal in supporting the peace process between Malacañang and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are aspiring for the congressional seats in their provinces.The outgoing three-termer Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and his staunch political ally, Mujiv Hataman, regional chief executive of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, simultaneously filed on Tuesday morning their certificates of candidacy for congressional representatives in the second district of Maguindanao and in Basilan, respectively.