Local News

MANILA (PNA) -- Four people, including a two-year-old boy, were hurt after suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits exploded a motorcycle bomb in Jolo, Sulu Saturday night.Col. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, said the incident took place at 7:30 p.m.

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao--- The remains of key massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan, Sr. arrived past 11:00 a.m.

COTABATO CITY - Andal Ampatuan Sr's legal counsel said all the cases filed against the former governor of Maguindanao will have to be dismissed due to his death.The state-runPhilippine News Agency reported thatFerdinand Topacio, Ampatuan's lawyer in the election sabotage case pending before a Pasay City court, said under the principles of penal laws death extinguishes any criminal liability of the accused. The Ampatuan patriarch was facing multiple murder in connection with the Maguindanao massacre now pending before a Quezon City trial court.

MANILA - AndalAmpatuan Sr. quietly passed away on Friday night, ending days of struggles at the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) intensive care unit.In a statement at past 10:45 p.m. FridayAmpatuan's lawyer Ferdinand Topacio saidand It is with deep sadness that I announce to the public that former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. has passed away. The 72-year-old Ampatuan patriarch passed away at 10:02 p.m. on Friday.Saying details were sketchy, Topacio said, adding thatAmpatuan'smortal remains will be treated in accordance with Islamic customs,” he added.

ESPERANZA, Sultan Kudarat -- Health authorities in Sultan Kudarat province are now determining if the squash patty taken by students of a public school here caused the severe abdominal pain of 57 pupils Thursday, police said today.At the same time, police and education officials were searching for two canteen operatorswho were the source of squash patty. At past 9 a.m. Thursday, 57 Grades 4, 5 and 6 pupils of Ala Elementay School in Barangay Ala, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat complained of bowel disorders and severe abdominal pain.Interviewed by DXOM-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal,Senior Insp.

KORONADAL CITY - Combined police and military authorities arrested Wednesday afternoon in Malungon, Sarangganithe most wanted person of Tampakan, South Cotabato.Daguil Capion was arrested by combined elements of Tampakan police, South Cotabato police office, Special Action Force and Saranggani police office at 2 p.m. inSunken Arena, Barangay Poblacion, Malungon, Sarangani Province.The arresting team was armed with arrests warrants issued by Judge Lorenzo Balo of Regional Trial Court Branch 24 for three counts of murder and attempted murder and Judge Joseph A.

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- A magnitude 4.5 earthquake of tectonic origin shook several areas around 9:44 a.m.

COTABATO CITY - Unidentified gunmen shot dead an off duty military police officer while he was driving his motorbike near the corner of Sinsuat Avenue and Sousa Street Wednesday morning.Capt. Joann Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, identified the victim as Sgt. Inocentes Ermenio, a member of the 6th ID military police and a resident of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Education officials in North Cotabato have temporarily suspended the delivery of food at the canteen of Dualing Elementary School in Aleosan, North Cotabato. Dr. Omar Obas, North Cotabato schools division superintendent, said his directive was part of prevention action after several pupils of Dualing Elementary School complained of stomach pain after eating siopao.They were rushed to Aleosan district hospital but were discharged hours later. Obas, however, clarified that no conclusion yet whether or notthe siopao was the real culprit in the children's illness.

DATU UNSAY,
Maguindanao – Teachers of a public school here are mentors early in
the day, students in the afternoon.

For a month
now, teachers of Datu Unsay Elementary School (DUES) in Datu Unsay,
Maguindanao, double as teachers and students because they study Arabic after
teaching hours.

Islamic
teacher Sarah Zailon has been spending time educating her co-teachers on Arabic
and correct pronunciation of verses of the Qur’an during the fasting month.