BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES

ARAKAN, North Cotabato– Three soldiers were killed and another wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in a remote village here, around 425 p.m., Wednesday. Chief Inspector Bernard Tayong, spokesperson for the Cotabato Provincial Police Office, identified the slain soldiers as Private First Class Callano, Quilangit, and Manampan, and the wounded as Corporal Blancia, all members of the 57thInfantry Battalion. Tayong said the soldiers, led by a certain Lt.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, May 5 (PNA) -- Kidnappers have released unharmed the four businessmen from this city who were seized in Maguindanao province on March 29 after the payment of an undisclosed ransom.Raulito Suyom Sr., father of kidnap victim architect Raulito Jr., said Tuesday his son and business partners Jayson Cababayao, Francis Wong Sepulvida and Rho Steven Bochurno were freed by their captors somewhere in Maguindanao” last April 28.He said the release, which was initially kept under wraps due to security reasons, came following a series of negotiations with the kidnappers that event

MANILA (PNA) -- Except for some minor refinements and clarifications, the Citizen Peace Council has found the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) overwhelmingly acceptable .”The BBL is overwhelming acceptable and deserves the support of all the Filipinos,” said Ateneo de Davao University president Rev. Fr.

The GPH Negotiating Panel in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Datu Antonio Kinoc, who passed away on May 2 due to liver cancer.Datu Kinoc served as an alternate member of the MILF peace panel for several years. In 2013, he became a senior consultant to the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).Datu Kinoc is an active advocate of the rights of indigenous peoples. A prominent member of the B'laan tribe, he co-authored the implementing rules and regulations of the landmark Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA) in 1997.

KIDAPAWAN CITY (May 4) – The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRM) here has strongly recommended the declaration of the city under ‘state of calamity’ so as to ‘cushion’ the impact of drought to thousands of farmers. City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, chair of the Kidapawan DRRM, met on Monday with the members of the council and his staff to discuss how much funds would be allotted and the distribution of calamity assistance.

COTABATO CITY - Mayor Shameem Mastura today led a bike for peace to show its support to the Mindanao peace process and the cooperation among Muslims, Christian and Indigenous Peoples in Sultan Kudarat town.Joining Mastura were employees of the Sultan Kudarat government, representatives from the Army's 6th Infantry Division, police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, government and non government organization representatives as well as local bikers.It was also an expression of support for the Pambansang Kamao who will fight today against Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas.Mastura sa

WAO, Lanao Del Sur -- A pregnant woman here thought she could not
survive a strafing incident in her community during the early hours of April
25.

Lailyn Ali, a 20 year old mother, was lucky to have survived unharmed
but her two friends who were also pregnant were not as lucky.

Four persons died when three men armed with assault rifles rained bullets
on a line of houses in Sitio Magtampong, Barangay Park Area, Wao, Lanao del Sur.

WAO, Lanao del Sur -- The families of the six villagers killed in a spate of related attacks last week in this town are seeking help in prosecuting the culprits whom they believe are just roaming freely in the municipality.Vice Gov.

ESPERANZA, Sultan Kudarat-- Motorcycle-riding men on Wednesday killed in Esperanza town a trader whom police said had a shady personality” and touted as a drug trafficker in disguise.Rakel Delna was driving his jeep at a stretch of a highway straddling through the town center of Esperanza when one of two men riding a motorcycle together repeatedly shot him from behind with a pistol.Delna was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians in a nearby hospital where he was rushed by responding policemen and community leaders.Local police probers said the suspects sped away after Delna sl

KORONADAL CITY - For a couple here, illegal drug pushing and selling was a good business and that money comes easy.However, anything illegal does not last long, Alson Ledesma and his wife Grace realized after they were arrested and jailed.Supt. Nestor Salcedo, Koronadal City PNP chief, said the couple who reside in Agan subdivision, Barangay Sta Cruz,Koronadal City was placed under surveillance following reports it has been pushing prohibited substance.A poseur buyer went to the couple's location, at a lodging house along Guanzon Village in Barangay Sta.