BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection here on Sunday reminded residents to help prevent bush fires that occur during summer time.As the country commenced the month-long celebration of Fire Prevention Month, the BFP said aside from electrical-triggered fire, bush fire could also hit houses nearby.This year's theme is Kaligtasan sa sunog alamin, at isabuhay natin.”Nationwide, from January 1 to date, 607 fire incidents were reported with seven deaths and most of the causes were electrical while the rest were unattended candles and lighted cigarette buts.

STO.NINO, South Cotabato -- About P25 million worth of suspected
methamphetamine hydrochloride were seized by elements of Sto. Nino town police operatives in Barangay Ambalgan here Tuesday morning. Chief Inspector Joel Fuerte,
Sto. Nino police chief, said the raiding team confiscated nine jumbo
packs, five medium packs and three small packs, home made caliber 45

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -– The authorities have seized a more than P100-million shipment of imported smuggled rice as they intercepted four vessels, including a foreign-owned, in the Sulu waters, an official announced Monday.At the same time, the troops have seized high-power firearms consisting of seven M-14 rifles and five M-16 Armalite rifles including two with attached M-203 grenade launchers.Capt. Ma.

KORONADAL CITY- Another inmate of South Cotabato Detention and Rehabilitation Center has escaped the detention facility on Monday, the third since late last year.Romeo Rufino, officer in charge of the jail facility, identified the escapee asAndy Evangelista, 28, resident of Norala town.

KORONADAL CITY - The General Santos City Athletic Association sustained its winning streak in the recently concluded SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) meet. The city bested eight other divisions of the Department of Education (DepED) in region 12 when it garnered an over-all point score results of 629.8. General Santos City has been a consistent topnotcher in the SRAA meet since 2012. The South Cotabato Athletic Association (SCAA) which maintained its post as first runner up in the SRAA meet 2015 garnered 624.70 points.

COTABATO CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday said it
can only either accept a diluted form of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, or
reject one which can only do more trouble than good to the communities
that ought to benefit from it. However Mohaqher Iqbal, the MILF’s chief negotiator, said they trust Congress to enact the bill without revisions. I
trust the collective wisdom of Congress to pass good legislation in the
form of the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Iqbal told reporters in a press

DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- Chief Superintendent Wendy Rosario, director of the Davao Region Police Office ordered all police stations to strengthen their defenses in the wake of the rebel attack in Mati City Sunday night.Superintendent Antonio Rivera, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 11, said augmentation of police personnel is underway for police stations with lesser number of cops from the Regional Public Safety Battalion.

MANILA, Feb. 16 (PNA) -- Government troopers killed five New People's Army (NPA) bandits during an encounter in Sitio Tugal, Barangay Datal Anggas, Alabel town, Sarangani at 8 a.m. Monday.1st Lt.

KORONADAL CITY -- Two men, one of themarmed with a kitchen knife, stabbed to death here a village official of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat, police said.Alert policemen who responded quickly arrested the two suspects after the 10 a.m. roadside stabbing incident.Alert policemen, led byPolice Senior Supt. Nestor Salcedo, Koronadal City police director, responded quickly and arrested the two suspects in the 10 a.m.

KORONADAL CITY - More than 7,000 people participated in in today'sPhilippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) 12 Fun Run. The fun run dubbed as PhilHealthand Ready Tsekap Go” was conducted in line with the agency’s 20thyear anniversary. Runners from various parts of SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City) Region braved the early morning rain andstarted to flock at the South Cotabato Sports complex as early as 3 a.m. Before hitting the road, the runners warmed up with a one hour Zumba exercise.