Local News

COTABATO CITY - A Maguindanaon registered nurse who works at
the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Cotabato City office has made
waves in the country and hopefully internationally.

Nikko Sinsuat Abdul, a 23-year-old native of Sultan Kudarat,
Maguindanao recently won as one of theMister United Continents-Philippines (MUCO) 2015,
bringing honor and pride to his native Maguindanao which is still reeling from
all negative news of massacre, wars, terrorism and bombings.

COTABATO CITY - Unidentified men riding on a motorbike shot dead a 42-year-old man from Aleosan, North Cotabato while driding his motorcycle with his wife in the city Tuesday night, police said.Senior Inspector Efren Salazar, police station 1 chief, said Mohalidin Oto McArthur was shot along Sinsuat Avenue, Cotabato City at past 9 p.m. His wife was unharmed.He was rushed by the police to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.Motive and identities of the attackers remained unknown as of posting.

MAKILALA, North Cotabato – Authorities here believed the harassment carried out by communist rebels in a rubber plantation warehouse here was due to extortion.Mayor Rudy Caoagdan of Makilala told DXND Radyo Bida thatprior to the attack by seven men who posed as applicants of the rubber firm, leaders of the New Peoples Army asked for a meeting with the owner of Pharma Rubber Industries.

MAKILALA, North Cotabato -- Amotorist and a bystander were injured when a roadside bomb planted along Makilala-Tacurong City highway went off Monday morning, police said.Police Officer 2 Ritchie Gesulga, chief of the Police Community Relations of the Makilala PNP, identified the victims as Antonio Jalamodia, motorcycle driver and Anisali Tapia, resident of Kilometer-5, Barangay San Vicente in Makilala. Police said Jalamodia was heading towards Kilometer-5 while Tapia was standing outside his house at Barangay San Vicente when the explosion happened.

COTABATO CITY - The Aboitiz-ownedCotabato Light and Power Company today said a slight power bill hike will take effect in electric bills this month. Responding to inquiries why the bill has increased,Tata Natano, Colight corporation communications officer, said several factors have contributed to the increase in power bills. During summer seasons, power bills normally increase due to frequent use of house appliances like aircondition units.Cotabato City has been experiencing dry spell with the temperature reaching as high as 32 degrees at midday.

KORONADAL CITY -- As the dry spell continue to hound villagers in South Cotabato, residents of remote villages in Tampakan town have spent most of their time in water sourcing.Dondon Campomayor, a resident, said he has to bike for several kilometers to haul water from an open wellfor washing clothes and dishes. Our own deep well has dried up, he told SXOMN-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal.

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao - A village councilman voluntarily surrendered to police authorities after he shot dead a cousin who was also a village council member in a remote village here Wednesdaynight, police said.Senior Inspector Esmael Madin, police chief of Sultan Kudarat town, identified the suspect as Nasser Duiaber Dayon, barangay councilman ofBarangay Narra, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and the victim as Barangay Ibutigenvillage councilor Tato Dayon, 56.Madin said the shooting was triggered by a long standing personal grudge involving the two village officials.Madin said the suspect

KORONADAL CITY - A former soldier was shot dead by still unidentified gunman in a remote village of Sto Nino, South Cotabato in what police believed was related to illegal drugs.Chief Inspector Joel Fuerte, police chief of Sto Nino PNP, said the victim,Saturan Caldea, was standing in Barangay Ambalgan infront of a house owned by a certain Sally Bagon when a lone gun man arrived and shot him without any provocation at 5:30 p.m.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) -- The city government has mobilized its personnel to assist efforts for the immediate and safe release of four businessmen from this city who were seized by members of an alleged kidnap gang in Maguindanao province two weeks ago.City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said he has assigned a team that will closely monitor and ensure proper coordination with law enforcement units who were working on the reported abduction of business partners Engr.

COTABATO CITY - A Maguindanao village official is now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 after he was arrested in a joint anti-narcotics agents-military operations in Datu Abdullah Sangkitown over the weekend.Considered high value target, Norodin Kasan Sangki alias Datu Nouri Sangki, village councilman of Barangay Maganding, Datu Abdullah Sangki town inMaguindanao was arrested by joint agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement AGency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(PDEA-ARMM) and elements of the 33rd Infantry Batta