Local News

COTABATO CITY -- Acting on a tip from concerned citizens about rampant illegal drug pushing near the Cotabato City's old slaughterhouse, members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) conducted a drug buy bust, an anti-narcotic agent today said. Special Agent Marvin Mendoza of PDEA-ARMM said the operation led to the arrest of suspected drug peddler Salidatu Salik Abas, 43.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - The twistersthat hit four villages here have destroyed more thanP3 million worth of crops and properties, the city disaster office said.Psalmer Bernalte, City Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) action officer, said the twisters slashed through the agricultural villages of Manongol, Indangan, Pacoand Perez. In Barangay Manogol, the twister damaged crops on its vegetative stage, destroyed a Senior Citizen center and Barangay Police Action Team (BPAT) center, Bernalte said.

BULUAN, Maguindanao - Police have filed charges against a 52-year-old man of Mangudadatu town in Maguindanao who abducted a 16-year-old four weeks ago.Police Inspector Alonto Arobintoh, Buluan police chief, said Tato Ryan Dilna, 52 and Kuli Dilna seized the girl while she was eating at a carenderia in Buluan public market on April 1.Arobintoh said the girl was forced to board a motorcyle driven by Kuli Dilna and they sped toward Mangudadatu town, also in Maguindanao.Negotiations for the release of the girl have been conducted between the her family and that of Dilna.

COTABATO CITY- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is offering the public the chance to watch the live broadcast of the boxing match between Manny Pacman Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. for free at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC)on Sunday.Al-Trekee Dayan, ARMM’s regional sports coordinator, said the free viewing is in support to the people’s champ Pacquaio and to give hundreds of his adoring fans the chance to watch the much-awaited match as it happens via pay-per-view. He said Pacman is representingnot only himself but the Filipino nation as a whole.

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato - A fire of still unknown origin gutted down an apartment in Barangay Poblacion 2 here Sunday, authorities said today.Fire officials placed the damages to properties owned by a certain Rodolfo Bermis toabout P800,000.Arson investigators said before the fire, residents heard a mild explosion which probers believed was due to overloaded electrical connections.Nobody was hurt.Fire victims have received aid from the village and town governments while the Bureau of Fire Protection has started inspection of electrical connections of old buildings and residential houses in

KIDAPAWAN CITY -A 19-year-old Filipino-American girl from Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, Philippines has been chosento sing the Philippine National Anthem during the historic Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight on May 2.

KORONADAL CITY - A fire of still unknown origin destroyed six units of Yellow Bus Line in the firm's garage in Barangay Sto Nino, Koronadal Cityon Saturday, authorities said today.Fire Officer 1Kathryn Umania of Koronadal City Fire Department told reportersthe fire broke out at 5 p.m.in the garage located along Gen. Santos Drive.Arson investigators are yet to determine what triggered the fire but authorities believed extreme heat due to drought could have contributed in the conflagration.Investigators said the buses were considered junk by the bus firm.

COTABATO CITY - Tension ran
high in the town of Wao, Lanao del Sur following a series of killings Friday
and Saturday that already left seven persons killed, including pregnant woman
and children, reports said.Interviewed by phone,
Mayor Elvino Balicao said that on Friday, six persons have been killed in the
hacking and shooting incidents. Another died in the hospital on Sunday.

Three children (aged 15,
13 and 9) were feeding three carabaos in separate areas in Sitio Campo Dos,
Park area, Wao, Lanao del Sur.

COTABATO CITY - Commuters have been
asking why roads around the Cotabato City mega market have always been heavy or
snail paced.

Mayor Japal Guiani Jr gave the ready
answer to a problem that remained unresolved through the years.

Stalls put up along the road sides, SK
Pendatun Extension and Dona BlancaStreet have been causing the slow flow of
traffic, the mayor said.

Small time vendors prefer to put up
stalls and lay down goods along the roadside for two reasons, a market goer has
said.

COTABATO CITY - The Cotabato City schools division is all set for the opening of classes for school year 2015-2016, officials said.Educaiton officials also expect theinflux of new students from nearby towns as a result of armed conflict in Maguindanao as well as the opening of junior and senior high school.As part of the preparation, the city schools division is set to implement theDivision Education Development Plan (DEDP), a comprehensive plan for school year 2015-2016.City Schools