Local News

KORONADAL CITY -- Thousands of farmer protesters blocked portions of the Koronadal Gen. Santos highway preventing all kinds of vehicles from passing through, as they pressed the government to give them rice,DXOM-AM Radyo Bida reported today.But an hour later, the group dispersed and returned to the regional center entrance, allowing the motorists to pass by.Organizers said they just try to close the highway.

TACURONG CITY -- A wayward Toyota D4Dpassenger van rests on its side after a highway mishap Friday night along the Tacuorng City-Isulan national highway.Traffic officials said the accident occurred at past 9 p.m. when the driver ofwhite van (conduction sticker YX 2921) lost control of the steering wheel, leaped to the roadside after hitting a roadside gravel and turned turtle three times.Driver Rommel Guinid of Tambunan, Talayan, Maguindanao who was alone in the van, sustained bruises and injuries.

JOLO, Sulu– Two fisherfolks were killed while 13 others were hurt when a home made dynamite used for fishing accidentally went off in a fishing village in Barangay Bustus, Jolo, Sulu Friday morning.Police investigation showed that one of the fatalities were preparing the dynamite kit for fishing, locally known as Timbak Istah, inside a house by the sea in Sitio Lungan Gihtung when it accidentally exploded, according to Chief Inspector Junpikar Sittin, Jolo police chief.Dynamite fishing is common in Jolo although it was illegal.

KIDAPAWAN CITY -– Forty-year old Quirico Berdin from the hinterland town in Arakan, North Cotabato failed to bring back home his mother, 78-year old Valentina, after her testimony at the Senate in Manila, last Wednesday. Quirico said they were so frustrated when they could not find Valentina inside the Organic Farm at Barangay Balindog, here. Quirico, along with other siblings and relatives, went to the farm hoping to find Valentina and bring her back home. They arrived at the farm, around 8 p.m., Thursday. They, however, did not find any trace of the old woman at the area.

KIDAPAWAN CITY -– Leaders of militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in North Cotabato vehemently denied accusations they are holding as ‘captives’ the more than 70 farmers arrested after they were released from detention last week. On Monday, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) national head lawyer Percy Acosta told media here that she personally visited Kidapawan City to look for ‘prisoners’ held ‘somewhere’. Acosta and her staff found the prisoners at the Organic Farm owned by the Diocese of Kidapawan located at Barangay Balindog, here.

MANILA – Police said the bullets that killed two farmers did not come
from the police special weapons and tactics during the dispersal of farmers’
protest in Kidapawan City, a police official told a Senate hearing Wednesday which TV networks aired live.

This claim made senators in disbelief since no other persons with arms
during the protest rally but the police SWAT.

During the April 1 dispersal, two protesters were killed. They were Darwin
Sulang, a 22-year-old farmer, and bystander Enrico Fabilgar, 30.

KORONADAL CITY –
Police neutralized Tuesday a man believed to be involved in the bloody pawnshop
robbery here and for his alleged involvement in illegal drug operation, police
said.

Senior Supt. Barney Condes,
Koronadal City police director, identified the slain robbery suspect as Jeffrey
Dalamban, 38, allegedly a member of the notorious Martilyo Gang” operating in
Manila. Also killed was his common-law-wife
Bailyn Balambag.

CARMEN, North Cotabato–
Unidentified men tried, but failed to topple, two transmission towers of the
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Carmen, North Cotabato,
police said today.

Chief Inspector Julius
Malcontento, Carmen town police chief, said unidentified persons planted six
powerful improvised explosive devices on Towers No. 95 and 96 located in
Barangay Aroman and Barangay Kitulaan, respective, all in the town of Carmen.

KORONADAL CITY -- A new police patrol car is expected to make the local police more effective in fighting petty crimes to illegal drug activities in the city, officials said.Koroandal City Mayor Peter Miguel personally received the key to a police car from President Aquino during simple ceremonies in Manila.Miguel requested the additional police car to Mar Roxas, then interior and local government secretary and now seeking the presidency.

COTABATO CITY -- Police bomb experts on Monday morning defused a powerful improvised explosive device planted beside the barangay hall of Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City.The IED, fashioned from two rounds of M-203 rifle grenade attached to one MK-2 fragmentation grenade with mobile phone as trigger mechanism, was safely deactivated at 11:40 a.m., a police report said.After the deactivation process, police bomb experts also found switch diagram, wires and 9 volts battery.It was not clear to whom the IED was meant for and who was behind the attempt.Senior Insp.