BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES

ZAMBOANGA CITY -The government peace panel for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) lauded the Senate Committee on Local Government chaired by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for organizing public hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Jolo, Sulu and Zamboanga City today, May 13, and tomorrow, May 14, respectively. We thank Senator Marcos for steering the various public consultations on the BBL, particularly in these areas in Mindanao. We appreciate his efforts to expedite the completion of his committee's report, government peace panel chair Prof.

MANILA -A Palace official is not worried about the postponement of the voting for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as he is confident that lawmakers know the importance of the said measure and its urgency.Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in an interview over state-run DZRB Tuesday, said the proposed law is still in the committee level and it is important that all members of the committee will be able to input what they consider are necessary for the proposed measure.He explained that since the law provides the policies and programs o

JOLO, Sulu (PNA) -- Key leaders in this island province have asked lawmakers, particularly Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. whose Senate committee is set to conduct a public hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) on Wednesday, to heed the Mindanaoans’ call for peace in the South. The Senate should read the sign of the times.

QUEZON CITY – Things are
not black, nor white. One cannot simply be pro-BBL or anti-BBL. Issues in the
proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) are far more complex to be taken like
this.”

COTABATO CITY - Whosays that Basilan is synonymous to kidnapping-for-ransom and beheading Abu Sayyaf bandits?A 14-year old boy from Simisip, Basilan won the Bronze Medal in the groundbreaking science competition of the International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering and Environment Project (I-Sweep) for high school students, in Houston, Texas on Sunday.Ahmed Turabin Hataman, a junior high school from Fountain International School, invented for his entry a plastic made of coconut which biodegrades in 20 days, unlike most other plastics.Ahmed’s invention qualified and ranked third among 4

COTABATO CITY– Officials and employees of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) showed today their support to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL start voting on the provisions of the proposed law and its endorsement to the plenary.Hundreds of government workers attended the short program that followed the regular flag raising ceremony at the region’s seat in Cotabato City.ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said the BBL is the best alternative to address the issue of peace and development in parts of Mindana

KORONADAL CITY - An Army private who went missing in South Cotabato has been dropped from the rolls of the 27th Infantry Battalion, an Army colonel said.Lt. Colonel Ronald Jess Alcudia, 27th IB chief, Private First Class Ken Subere, who went missing on April 12, has not returned to date and has not informed his immediate superior whether or not he is still interested in the military.

MANILA, May 8 (PNA) -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has officially confirmed its intention to join the May 2016 elections after applying for registration and accreditation as a regional political party before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).Based on the petition signed by Yasser Ebrahim, president of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) of the MILF, they want to legitimize the cause of the Bangsamoro people and recognize the democratic process by registering with the poll body.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – About 43 families in remote villages of Arakan, North Cotabato have fled homes following
the road side bombing that left three soldiers and wounded another in the
village of Kabalantian, a village official said.

Charlie Segucal, village
chair of Kabalantian, told DXND Radyo Bida that 28 families from Purok Tikuyac
have fled Wednesday night and sought shelter at the village center.

TAGUM CITY - Over-all medal standing of regular sports of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa here.As of 4 p.m. May 7, SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) delegates have so far won 8 gold, 13, silver and 11 bronze medals, placing them to 6th place over all.The National Capital Region remains on top.The ARMM Athletic Association (ARMMMAA) has 3 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.But Al Saludo, DXOM Radyo Bida Koronadal who was covering the event in Tagum City for NDBC, said the SRAA, as of 6 p.m., has already collected 11 gold medals.