Local News

LAKE
SEBU, South Cotabato - For still unknown reason, a 31-year-old man held hostage
his family here for several hours on Saturday, warding off anyone who wanted to
help and negotiate for an end to his acts.

The incident happened in Barangay Talisay, Lake
Sebu at about 5:30 p.m.

Chief
Inspector Joven Bagaygay, Lake Sebu town police chief, identified the hostage
taker as Marcos Candil Calipay, 31, resident of Barangay Talisay, who was armed
with a machete.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Police believedworn out road signs and wrong detour signage led to a freak accident in Kidapawan City-Makilala bordersthat killed a motorist during the first hours of 2016.The fatality was identified asAllen Roy Madlus who was on vacation in Kidapawan City.Police Officer 1 Arnold Daleon of Makilala PNP said Madlus died on the spot due to serious head injuries after he fell from portions of the double bridge undergoing repair.

BANGA, South Cotabato - A man who was seen hacking several banana plants in a remote village here traded shots with lawmen on Saturday, ending up dead in the process, reports said.Chief Inspector Marvin Duadua, Banga police chief, toldDXOM-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal, that Rey de Juan, 36, who was armed with home-made pistol, refused to surrender but traded bullets with lawmen in a running gun battle.Earlier, Juan hacked and destroyed several banana plants in a plantation owned by a certain Jun Castillo.Responding police officers tried to convince Juan to surrender but he fired the first shot,

KORONADAL CITY - A 60-year-old woman was injured when a bullet, believed to have been fired during New Year's revelry, pierced through her home's ceiling and into her left arm, police said.Erlinda Santiago of Purok Maligaya, Barangay Carpeter Hill, Koronadal City was rushed toAllah Valley Medical Specialist Center at past 12 a.m. on Friday.She told police that she was with family members celebrating the New Year when something hard hit her hand.

KORONADAL CITY -- Anti-narcotics agents arrested before New Year a police officer tasked to maintain law and order and fight illegal activities, police said.His fault - PO2 Ruben Morales, 39was pushing illegal drugs or shabuwith his wife in the city, according to Dr.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - At least three members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were killed when clashed with the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Matalam, North Cotabatoon New Years’ eve, police said. Senior Inspector Sunny Leoncito, Matalam police,said the incident happened in Barangay Kidama when the two groups accidentally crossed paths along the village roads. Leoncito identified the fatalities asDadrodin Ingkig, 27, Taya Akmad, 60 and a certain Marcial, 35.

KORONADAL CITY -- Arson investigators here believed a firecracker, most likely kwitis, triggered a fire here that left seven houses razed to the ground during the New Year's revelry.Boy Zabala, owner of a house made of light materials where the fire started, he only managed to save few of his valuables.

CAM SIONGCO,
Maguindanao – Government forces on New Year’s Eve repulsed three
attempts by outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to over-run military
detachments in Maguindanao, the Army here said today.

Capt. Joann
Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said the first
attempt to capture Army detachments of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion
in Datu Piang, Maguindanao at 6 p.m. Thursday by firing a series of rifle
grenades.

COTABATO CITY –- Health officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
today reported zero firecracker related injury but admitted four persons were
hurt by stray bullets during the New Year’s revelry.

Another person was
hit by stray bullet in Cotabato City, which is part of Region-12.

COTABATO CITY- Repair works of a bombed steel tower of theNational Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Ramain, Lanao del Sur have been halted after landowner where the toppled tower was located prevented entry toNGCP field personnel, the NGCP said in a statement Friday.NGCP said the landowner who it did not identify refused to allow entry of technical people to do repair works, claiming the government failed to pay his right of way claims.On Christmas Eve, NGCP Steel Tower No.