NDBC NEWS IN BRIEF

DENR to dispose seized Narra lumber

PARANG, Maguindanao (Sept. 19) – The Department
of Environment and Natural Resources in Maguindanao will soon turn over forest products
seized at a police checkpoint in Katuli, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao after its
owner failed to show up.

DENR said a
confiscation proceeding had been conducted but the owner failed to show up.

Police and
DENR personnel seized illegally cut lumber products on board a hauler truck in
Barangay Katuli.

Sukarno Nur,
truck owner, said his car was only hired to haul the 700 board feet lumber products
but had no idea about its owner. (NDBC)

Man stabs 52-year-old businesswoman

COTABATO CITY (Sept. 19) – A 52-year-old money-lending
businesswoman is now fighting for her life after a man stabbed her Thursday
afternoon.

Senior Insp.
Efren Salazar, police station 1 chief, said Cecilia Sawit, resident of Zone 2,
PC Hill, Cotabato City.

Salazar said
the suspect who was known to Sawit came to apply for a loan. He was allowed entry inside the victim’s
home.

Minutes later,
the woman was yelling for help as the suspect left the victim’s house. Neighbors rushed her to the hospital.

Salazar did
not identify the suspect while manhunt operation was still on-going. (NDBC)

Gunman kills Sultan Kudarat fisherman

COTABATO CITY (Sept. 19) – Unidentified gunman shot dead Salipada
Mamantal, a resident of Bulalo, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao while he was in
Barangay Kalanganan, Cotabato City.

Police said
Mamantal, a fisherman, was walking along a dirt road in Barangay Kalanganan
when a man shot him with cal. 45 pistol. He died on the spot.

Police are
still hunting down the suspect.(NDBC)
Tunggol bridge rehab underway

COTABATO CITY (Sept. 19) – The plan to extend the approaches of
Tunggol bridge have to prevent it from collapsing, public works officials said.

Engr. Rey
Tamayo, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 12, said rehabilitation
and repair of works of the approach foundation has been on going and expected
to be completed in a month.

Tamayo told
Radyo Bida Cotabato installation of metal slabs along the riverbank near the
vital infrastructure is on-going and nearing completion.

DPWH-12 and
DPWH in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are jointly working on the
bridge.

Tamayo
appealed to motorist to bear with the repair works and obey one-way traffic
policy.

Rampaging
waters due to days of heavy down pour in North Cotabato triggered soil erosion
and destruction to the concrete approach of the bridge, endangering its
foundation. (NDBC)

Police arrest father-son rape suspects

KIDAPAWAN CITY (Sept. 19) – Police arrested here a father-son
tandem accused of rape following days of surveillance operation by joint Kidapawan
Arakan police personnel at the Overland Terminal.

Now detained
at Arakan police station lock up cell are Geronimo Cabalsi Cabigona Sr., 74 and
his namesake son, 30, both residents of Arakan.

A warrant for
his arrest was issued by Judge Alvin Sadiri of Regional Trial Court Branch 17
for three counts of rape.

Nor C ot cops free 7 suspected NPAs

MAGPET, North Cotabato (Sept. 19) – Police here
released seven persons invited for questioning after they were sighted near the
spot where a roadside bomb went off and wounded three policemen.

Inspector
Raelan Mamon, Magpet police chief, said the seven suspects were also seen close
to the spot where suspected New Peoples Army rebels clashed with government forces
in sitio (sub-village) Natutungan and Bagumbayan.

The suspects, James
Villareal, Ibrahim
Bintayao, 48 Gloria Bintayao, 47 Jovannie Andaya, 23 Richard Icling, 39
Jesreal Andaya, 20 and Jerwin Andaya, 19 all residents of Purok Singko,
Barangay Noa, Magpet, North Cotabato.

Colonel Nilo
Vinluan, 57th IB chief, said they were invited, not arrested, to
shed light on their suspicious presence in the area.

Mamon said
they were negative of powder burns.

Police
responded to reports that the NPA were forcing villagers to pay revolutionary
taxes.

Two bombs were
set off by the guerrillas that wounded three cops. (NDBC)