Local News

COTABATO CITY -- Police and military authorities differ in its finding in the grenade blast on Nov. 14 along Sinsuat Avenue here that left two soldiers and two other civilians wounded.Speaking during the Cotabato City Council session, Senior Supt.

COTABATO CITY – Scheduled power interruption continues
in Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light) franchise area as power
supply from Mindnao grid power generators remained scarce.

Arlene Hepiga, Cotabato Light corporate communications
officer, said the power deficiency has risen to 320 megawatt after Therma South
Inc was put under preventive maintenance as well as the STEAG power plant 1 in
Misamis Oriental.

Cotabato Light consumers will experience one to two
hour brownout Tuesday.

BULUAN, Maguindanao – The 6th
year anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre on Monday was capped by a musical concert
here in the evening, a fitting tribute to slain journalists and other victims
of manslaughter.

Victims’ relatives, led by Maguindanao
Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu, were entertained by local musical performers,
including a massacre victim that never was” – Joseph Jubelag.

AMPATUAN, Maguindanao --The state witness to the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre is worried he could be murdered by people that want him silent sooner than the judiciary can hand a verdict on the carnage. I’ve told the court about what happened on that day. I was beside Andal Ampatuan, Jr. when he was firing an automatic weapon at the victims. What else is needed for justice to triumph? I’m tired and I’m living on the edge now,” lamented massacre witness Sukarno Badal.Badal was referring to Ampatuan, Jr., tagged as one of the brains in the massacre, which shook the nation to its core.

It was shortly before noontime of Nov. 23, 2009 when I received a call from the wife of Manila Bulletin correspondent Bong Reblando who was sobbing as she informed me that he was missing along with several other journalists.Bong was not just a former journalism colleague.

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat -– Despite Saturday
night’s bombing that left 11 persons injured here, the Kalimudan Festival activities
continued as scheduled.

Describing the bombing as isolated and not an attack
against the week-long 42nd foundation anniversary of Sultan Kudarat,
provincial Gov. Suharto Teng” Mangudadatu and his wife were around to witness
the street dancing competition Sunday.

KIDAPAWAN CITY— Families and relatives of the November 23, 2014 bombing of a billiard hallin Mlang, North Cotabato will converge on Mondayat the blast site to light candles,offer prayers. This is to remember the bloody incident one year ago. Three teenagers perished in the blast. They wereRolence John Camiring, Francis Charles Rio and Jade Villarin. About 24 other individuals were hurt. Mlang Mayor Joselito Pinol said the commemoration serves as tribute to the victims and their relatives who are still seeking justice. The scar is still there literally.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao --- The Army's 6th Infantry Division on Sunday dispatched intelligence operatives to help the police investigate on the grenade attack late Saturday in Sultan Kudarat's capital town Isulan town, which injured ten, three of them minors.It was the fifth bombing incident in Central Mindanao in just two weeks.It was earlierreported that at least15 people were hurt in the blast. Only 10 have so far been identified as of press time Sunday.

KIDAPAWAN CITY -– Authorities arrested a suspected bomber in a highway inspection here, around 1:30 a.m., Sunday.
Superintendent John Meridel Calinga, city police director, identified the suspect as Mark Garde Villamor, 35, of Poblacion, Matalam.Calinga said they recovered from the suspect a fragmentation grenade, the same type of explosive that was used to sow panic and terror among residents of North Cotabato.

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat (Nov. 22) – At least 15 persons were wounded when unidentified suspects lobbed a hand grenade in the middle of people-filled festival front the provincial capitol grounds Saturday night, police said.
Supt. Jemuel Siason, chief of Sultan Kudarat police provincial public safety battalion, said the blast occurred near AG Advance Gasoline Station along the Isulan-Tacurong City national highway at about 8:30 p.m.
The injured were rushed to Sultan Kudarat provincial hospital which was few meters away.