BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES

MAGUINDANAO --- The Australian government reiterated Friday its willingness to help promote quality education in the Bangsamoro region where it has on-going projects complementing regional literacy thrusts.

Ambassador Steven Robinson was in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao on Friday morning, along with Education Minister Muhaquer Iqbal of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, for a Brigada Eskwela activity.

BASILAN --- Former Anak Mindanao Party-list representative Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman took oath as mayor of Isabela City Wednesday, a new comer who defeated during the May 13 polls a rival from a politically influential clan.

The loss of incumbent Vice Mayor Cherry Akbar in that mayoral race has cut the last string binding the Akbar clan to the political world of Basilan where it ruled unchallenged for about two decades.

MAGUINDANAO --- Four people were killed in separate ambush incidents Wednesday in the neighboring Parang and Sultan Kudarat towns in this province.

The first fatalities were identified as Dayaba Kari, 67, and his 30-year-old driver, Danny Apostol.

Kari and Apostol were together in a white Toyota Wigo bearing license plates ADP 3187 that gunmen from another vehicle trailing behind shot with assault rifles.

Both victims died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds.

MAGUINDANAO --- The police salvaged a fishing boat adrift at the Moro Gulf carrying its dead skipper Tuesday, hours after his killer was arrested swimming away near the west coast of this province.

The suspect, Bonifacio Segudan Rabe, 43, has confessed having killed with a knife his companion, the 31-year-old Joerey Pagnete, amid a heated altercation over sailing procedures.

Pagnete was first rescued by combined personnel of the Datu Blah municipal police office and the Philippine Coast Guard swimming towards the seaside town.

BASILAN --- The reelected governor of this island province, Jim Salliman, was sworn to office Tuesday in Isabela City by Judge Danilo Bucoy.

Salliman, now in his second term as Basilan governor, defeated a scion of the Akbar clan, Alfiya, daughter of the late former Congressman Wahab Akbar, during the May 13 gubernatorial race in the province.

Salliman’s wife, Bai Annie Datumanong, is daughter of the late Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, a scion of the Maguindanaon royalty.

He was first elected Basilan provincial governor in 2016.

COTABATO CITY --- The military supports the plan of church leaders and elected Muslim officials in Basilan to organize a joint advisory council to help the government address domestic security woes.

Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega of the Western Mindanao Command said Monday he was elated with the meeting last week of top Catholic missionaries in Basilan and two Muslim officials, Mujiv Hataman and spouse Sitti Djalia, incoming congressman and newcomer mayor of Isabela City, respectively, where they talked about key governance issues.

While conducting focused military operation, troops of the 13th Special Forces Company, 6th Special Forces Battalion encountered 30 Abu Sayyaf Group members under Mundi Sawadjaan in Barangay Igasan, Patikul, Sulu at 5:35pm yesterday, May 25.

A firefight ensued that lasted for 30 minutes after which enemies withdrew bringing along their casualties.

Six Abus were killed and seven others were wounded during the encounter while five soldiers were slightly wounded.

BASILAN --- Muslim and Christian farmers stand to benefit from three different irrigation facilities being constructed now by the provincial government in this island province.

The Kapatagan and Sumagdang irrigation projects, each costing P15 million, are located in Barangays Kapatagan ang Sumagdang, both in Isabela City.

A larger P35 million worth irrigation facility is also being built in Barangay Balobo in Lamitan City by the office of Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman.

MARAWI CITY --- The vice governor of Lanao del Sur is thankful to voters who catapulted him on May 13 to the provincial gubernatorial post in a phenomenal fashion.

Mamintal Adiong, Jr. was the last to be proclaimed by the poll body as governor-elect of Lanao del Sur from among winning candidates for governor in the five component-provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Adiong, who was elected vice governor in 2016, garnered almost 200,000 votes during the May 13 gubernatorial race in Lanao del Sur.

COTABATO CITY – The holy month of Ramadhan is celebrated during the ninth month of Hejira or Islamic calendar where Muslims across the world fast.

As one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting requires Muslims to abstain from any food or drink from dawn until dusk.For Muslims, Ramadhan is a chance to get closer to the Almighty Allah and a way to be more compassionate to the needy ones.

Fasting is also a way for Muslims to learn patience and break bad habits.

Festivity during Ramadhan