Local News

KIDAPAWAN CITY  – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded 53 aftershocks following the 8:36 p.m. first tremor traced 15 kilometers west of Makilala, North Cotabato. The latest was felt at 8:56 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.9.

Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista has ordered the suspension of office works after cracks were found at the building.  Assessment of the building was going on.

ISABELA CITY --- A “boodle fight” banquet among Muslim and Christian leaders and newly-elected officials in Isabela City, Basilan Monday restored cross-section cordiality dampened for so long by hostile politics.

Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, Vice Mayor Kifli Salliman and leaders of the local Catholic community led by Bishop Leo Dalmao celebrated Monday the city’s feast day via a traditional military style “boodle fight” banquet to show religious solidarity among Muslim and Christian groups.

COTABATO CITY  – Anti-narcotic operatives on Saturday arrested four drug suspects in separate anti-drug operations here and in nearby Cotabato province.

Director Juvenal Azurin of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM), said the twin operations led to the recovery of about P6.8 million worth of suspected shabu.

PIKIT, Cotabato  – Five men, including the son of former Maguindanao governor, were killed in a shootout with soldiers at a checkpoint here Friday night.

Brig. Gen. Alfredo del Rosario, the commander of the 601^st Infantry Brigade, said the victims fired at soldiers manning a checkpoint in Barnagay Inugog at about 9:30 p.m.

Del Rosario said the soldiers flagged down a gray Nissan Patrol (license plate LEM-521) as it approached the Pagalungan bridge for regular inspection.

COTABATO CITY—The chief minister of the newly formed Bangsamoro Government said he is committed to “assist our law enforcement agencies in pursuing the perpetrators” of the suicide bomb attack in Indanan, Sulu Friday last week.

COTABATO CITY (July4) --- Eight people were hurt when a Mitsubishi Montero ploughed through pedestrians on a street at the city’s commercial hub Wednesday.

The wayward sports utility vehicle of the 24-year-old Faisah Ponga also hit and damaged five vehicles parked along the thoroughfare before it struck head-on a post of the Cotabato Light and Power Company.

Probers investigating on the incident told reporters Thursday Ponga lost control of the wheel while attempting to park her SUV along a busy portion of the Almonte Street here.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Kidapawan City government today announced the start of operation of Yellow Bus Lines to serve people of the Soccsksargen region and one province in the autonomous region.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista of Kidapawan made the announcement as he opened the city for tourists from other parts of the region.

COTABATO CITY - PATAY ang isang sundalo habang patuloy namang ginagamot sa ospital ang kasamahan nito matapos silang pagbabarilin ng motorcycle-riding gunmen sa Cotabato City kahapon.

Sa report ng City PNP, nakilala ang nasawi na si Corporal HERMINIO BELANO, 29 anyos, may asawa, at taga San Mateo, Isabela.

Sugatan naman ang kasama nitong si Corporal PACIFICO OBILLO, 32 yrs old, may asawa, at taga Balaoan, La Union.

Ang dalawa ay pawang mga miembro ng Army’s Special Forces 10th Company.

MATANOG, Maguindanao  –- Police authorities in Maguindanao arrested before dawn Tuesday a village official who was facing murder charges.

Police Major Esmael Madin, head of PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-Maguindanao), identified the village official as Jamal Macapaar, chairperson of Barangay Bugasan Sur, Matanog, Maguindanao.

Madin said the CIDG in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-BARR) through its Maguindanao field office, said Macapaar was nabbed during the implementation of “Oplan Paglalansag Omega.”

COTABATO CITY  – A pregnant woman and 10 others were arrested during anti-drug operations at a residential area here Monday night, an anti-narcotic official today said.

Director Juvenal Azurin of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) did not identify the pregnant woman who admitted using shabu in a drug den in Barangay Poblacion 2.