Local News

NORTH COTABATO --- Communist rebels shot dead a militiaman in Arakan town on Tuesday morning, just three days after the fatal ambush of an off-duty soldier in a nearby town.Senior Superintendent Jonathan Tangonan, director of the North Cotabato provincial police, identified fatality as Jeffrey Bitonio, a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit.Bitonio was riding his motorcycle on his way home from their detachment in Barangay Anapolon in Arakan when New People’s Army guerillas positioned at one side of the road opened fire with assault rifles, killing him instantly.The NPAs im

COTABATO CITY - A magnitude 4.1 quake hit coastal areas of Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat at 7:22 a.m. Wednesday, the state volcanology office today said.The tremor was tectonic in origin and was traced 30 kilometers west of Kalamansig and has a depth of 006 kilometers.No aftershocks are expected, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.No reported casualty or damage to properties as of posting.

PDEA agents arrest high value target in KoronadalKORONADAL CITY - Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office XII arrested Sudnay night a man included in its drug watchlist.PDEA 12 Regional Director Gil Castro said the suspect, Edmund Sedsang alias Tiro/Siro, has been in the PDEA watchlist.He was arrested during anti-drug operation inBarangay GPS, Koronadal City.Sedsang, Castro said, eluded arrest in April this year but relentless campaign of PDEA and its allies led to his arrest.

GEN. SANTOS CITY -- The South Cotabato police provincial office best three other police provincial offices across the region and awarded as 2016 Best Police Provincial Office by Police Regional Office (PRO-12).South Cotabato, headed by Senior Supt.

MANILA -- Rescued catholic priest Teresito Chito Suganob today said he is physically strong (and) handsome. But he will still under medical procedures by the Armed Forces of the Philippine military doctors after enduring difficulty in the hands of his captors in Marawi City. Sa lahat, salamat at saka I pray for you, God bless you all, Suganob said before leaving the venue where he was presented to media by Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana and other military officials. Pray for me, for trauma healing recovery.

MANILA – A Catholic bishop lauded the recovery of Fr. Teresito Chito Suganob, who had been held by the Islamic State-inspired Maute group since the crisis erupted in Marwi City nearly four months ago.Bishop Edwin dela Peña of Marawi commended the military for its efforts in rescuing Suganob and other hostages abducted by the terrorists. I am happy receiving messages about Fr.

MARAWI CITY — Catholic priest Teresito Chito Suganob and another civilian hostage were rescued by government after they escapedMaute and Abu Sayyaf terrorist groups Saturday night, officials said.Presidential Adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said he received a report from military forces in Marawi City that Fr.

BANGA, South Cotabato - Military authorities unearth in a remote village here explosives and other war materials buried by suspected communist New Peoples Army, the Army, in a report, said.Acting on a tip by a civilian informant, elements of the Banga PNP and 27th Infantry Battalion, dugged an area in Sitio Lambontong Odi, Brgy Lambingi, Banga.A report from the 1002nd Infantry Brigade said recovered were twoM-79 grenade launcher, two claymore landmines, three improvised explosive devices and eight detonating devices.

COTABATO CITY -- Joint Maguindanao and Cagayan de Oro police personnel and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PEDEA) arrested Friday a former Maguindanao cop and his companion during anti-drug operation in Cagayan, police said.In a report, the CDP police office identified the suspect asPolice Officer 1 Zamaxary Romato Usman and his companion-drug peddler, Peter Candonggo Fabro. PO1 Usman used to be assigned with the Maguindanao PNP provincial office based in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao but was dismissed in February 2017 due to negligence.Usman was among the high value target of PDEA CDO.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Rebel commanders from two Moro fronts in a town in North Cotabato vowed to help the Philippine National Police (PNP) in its campaign against illegal drugs.Senior Superintendent Jonathan Tangonan, officer-in-charge of the Cotabato Police Provincial Office (CPPO), said the rebel commanders manifested their support after signing a covenant between the local PNP and the local government unit (LGU) in Matalam, North Cotabato.Tangonan said it was Mayor Gigi Valdevieso-Catamco that called for the ‘special meeting’ on Thursday between the commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberatio