BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES

COTABATO CITY – The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) will install in the island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi ten (10) units of machines that will convert salty sea water into fresh drinkable water.

This is to address the scarcity of potable water in the area that has been going on for generations, according to MILG Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo.

COTABATO CITY - The Moro National Liberation Front urged the Senate Thursday to fix what is for southerners “loopholes” in its Bill 2214, meant to reset to 2025 the 2022 Bangsamoro regional elections.

The measure can strip the MNLF of representation in BARMM’s parliament if approved without review, according to peace activists helping the national government and Moro communities push the Mindanao peace process forward.

The MNLF presently has 11 representatives in the interim Bangsamoro parliament.

COTABATO CITY ---- The stringent government anti-COVID-19 protocols does not affect the law-enforcement activities of the police anywhere in the Bangsamoro region, Police Brig. Gen. Eden Ugale said Wednesday.

Ugale, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said the enthusiasm of their personnel to serve the local communities, particularly in helping the LGUs and government health agencies address pandemic issues, remain markedly high despite knowing the hazards accruing such missions.

COTABATO CITY—Bangsamoro region's interior and local government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo stated in a press briefing on Monday that Bangsamoro Government will further strengthen its cooperation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to combat sporadic attacks in Maguindanao.

MAGUINDANAO --- Mayors have promised to crack the whip on the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters that has enclaves in this province where recruits are trained on fabrication of improvised explosive devices.

Mayors from across Maguindanao told reporters, at the sideline of Monday’s first ever Bangsamoro peace and Security Summit in Cotabato City, that they have assured, via the leadership of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to help push Malacañang’s anti-BIFF campaign forward.

COTABATO CITY - Bangsamoro Government leaders, together with security sector and other development partners, gathered Monday, May 24, to tackle the existing armed conflicts in certain areas of the region and its immediate resolution.

The Office of the Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua and the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) spearheaded the conduct of the 1st Bangsamoro Peace and Security Summit for Sustainable Local Development, which aims to address the existing armed conflicts in SPMS Box and other adjoining areas in Maguindanao.

MAGUINDANAO --- A combined Army-police team killed the elusive large-scale drug trafficker “Grass Cutter” in a brief encounter in Datu Paglas town Friday.

"Grass Cutter," whose name was Abdulatip Pendaliday, was implicated in the murder of more than 30 people and tagged in a series of cattle and motorcycle heists in recent months.

He thrice eluded joint military-police dragnets in the past three years.

COTABATO CITY — Different BARMM agencies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and other humanitarian agencies participated in the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD)-led Peace and Security Pre-Summit activity on Tuesday, May 18, in Cotabato City.
 
The activity was conducted to identify solutions and address the current situation of the affected families in the SPMS box and other conflict areas in Maguindanao province.
 

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday expressed hope that the Muslim community’s “generosity and compassion” will never fade.

In his Eid’l Fitr message, Duterte said he is optimistic that the occasion would inspire everyone to continue promoting “peace, unity and goodwill among our fellow Filipinos.”

“As you mark the end of a month-long journey of reflection, prayer, and fasting, may Allah continue to instill in you the virtues of generosity and compassion for others,” Duterte said.

COTABATO CITY — Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim has encouraged the Bangsamoro people to learn the Arabic language in order to appreciate Islam’s holy book Qur’an and embody its teachings.

Chief Minister Ebrahim said that reading the Qur’an is a must for every Muslim, as it is the major basis for living a life that pleases Allah.

He delivered his keynote speech on Saturday, May 8, during the culmination of the month-long series of Qur’an reading and memorization competition 2021 organized by the Office of the Wali.