BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES

KIDAPAWAN CITY - The long dry spell continues to destroy forests in North Cotabato with bushfire incidentshappening every now and then even as the country observes Fire Prevention Month.The latest fire incidents in the forest occurred in the mountains of Makilala, North Cotabato, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection.One of the two bushfire incidents happened in the forests of Barangay Buhay Thursday which lasted for about two days. The bushfire of still unknown origin ate up vast track of cogon grass in Barangay Buhay, the BFP said.

MANILA — Police authorities in Northern Mindanao announced Saturday the arrest in Misamis Occidentalof a suspected bomber believed to have been involved in Kidapawan City bombing.The state media, quoting Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Northern Mindanao police regional director, identified the suspect as Abdulmalik Salik, a member of the al-Khobar extortion group operating in North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato.Salik was arrested at a police checkpoint in Panaon town, Misamis Occidental at past 5 p.m.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - More than 1,150 cats and dogs were vaccinated in an intensified anti-rabies vaccination of the city veterinary office.Dr. Eugene Gornez, Kidapawan City veterinarian, said the mass vaccination will also be conducted in remote barangays to help prevent the escalation of rabis among animals and pets. March is Rabies Awareness Month.

KORONADAL CITY - Sixteen fire incidents have been reproted in South Cotabato in 2015, the provincial disaster risk reduction office today said.Mila Lorca, South CotabatoProvincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Action Officer, told DXOMRadyo Bida Koronadal that the data does not include fire incidents that were not reported to the bureau of fire office.

DAVAO
CITY (PNA) -- Military authorities here assured that the
city’s safety and security will not be affected even with the offensive
operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in
Maguindanao.Colonel Macairog Alberto, commanding officer of the
Task Force Davao (TF Davao) said the unit is fully aware of all
possibilities as soldiers pursue the members of the BIFF in the
province. He said they keep watch on the possible enclaves where terror
cells might take refuge if ever they would come to the city.Alberto

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Despite facing several murder charges and other heinous crimes, arrested leader of an armed Moro group in Mindanao believed he was a ‘good man’, said an official of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Sultan Kudarat. Interviewed by DXND Radyo Bida Kidapawan,Chief Inspector Elmer Guevarra, CIDT-Sultan Kudarat head, said that Muhammad Tambako Ali, former leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), denied the charges filed against him saying he is an Islamic mentor teaching good values among his students.

KIDAPAWAN CITY -The city government here has filed a petition at the three local trial courts in North Cotabato that seeks preclusion of the imminent transfer of more high-risk inmates from the provincial penitentiary to the jail here.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - A 48-year old farmer believed to be a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was killed when attacked by allegedly members of the same rebel front in a village here Friday. Chief Inspector Elias Colonia, chief of Matalam municipal police station, identified the victim as Samod Baraguir, member of the 5thBrigade of the 108thBase Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the MILF.

COTABATO CITY --- Close to 200 licensed newly-appointed teachers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Thursday urged Malacañang to allocate more money for education of children in ARMM, not on military solutions to the decades-old Moro issue.The newly enlisted teachers brought to more than 3,000 the number of mentors the ARMM’s Department of Education hired in the past 18 months as part of the present administration's effort to professionalize and maximize the operations of the agency.The DepEd-ARMM was touted as the most corrupt agency in the region during the time of past admini

KIDAPAWAN
CITY -- A provincial board member here has asked local
government chief executives to spearhead and be active in the campaign
against terrorism and save its people from harm or even death.North
Cotabato and Kidapawan City have been bracing for bombings as
diversionary tactics by outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
(BIFF) now the subject of massive law enforcement operations in adjacent
Maguindanao province.Its leaders have publicly announced it will