COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/29 September) — A military operation looms large against breakaway Moro rebel commander Ameril Umra Kato if he refuses to yield peacefully with the “impending formal declaration of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that he’s no longer officially their member.” Kato, whom the MILF earlier declared as “bughaat” (defiant), snubbed the September [...]

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/29 September) — At noon tomorrow (September 30), the term of duly elected officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao shall have ended, as mandated by Republic Act 9054 or the Expanded ARMM Organic Act. The Supreme Court recently issued a Temporary Restraining Order that prevents President Benigno Aquino III from appointing [...]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/29 September) — The National Democratic Front of the Philippines today announced it was ready to release the four personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in the custody of the New People’s Army. “For humanitarian reasons in response to repeated appeals of the families of the four [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/29 September) – Local Army officials are working for the release before yearend of some P1 million worth of seed assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) for rebel returnees and residents of areas previously influenced by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Columbio town in Sultan Kudarat. Lt. Col. Alex Noel [...]

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/29 September) — House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has filed a bill in Congress seeking the allocation of P400 million to boost the country’s anti-Human Immuno Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS) program. Salazar, this city’s first district representative, said HB 5312 seeks to amend and strengthen the country’s HIV-AIDS prevention [...]

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/29 September)– They were apparently seeking a way out for their client, but a rescaling requested by the lawyers of a trader who transported lumber allegedly in excess of the volume allowed in her permit only showed a bigger excess than originally reported. Felix Mirasol Jr., Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer of [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/29 September) — The year was 2011 when I woke up on Tuesday morning, September 27. There was a big storm somewhere else, but the weather in Davao City was fair and planes were flying. I was getting on the first Philippine Air Lines flight to Manila at 7:40 am. I’m not a [...]

Bishop Felixberto Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente facilitates the video conference between National Democratic Front peace panel Chair Luis Jalandoni (on screen) and journalists in Davao City on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. Jalandoni said the rebels will release the four jail officers held as prisoners of war if the government declares a suspension of [...]

VIVA SENOR! Iliganons shout “Viva Senor San Miguel!” during the early morning procession around Iligan City Thusrday (Sept. 29, 2011) to celebrate the feast of their patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel. MindaNews photo by Bobby Timonera

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/28 Sept) – With flood water rearing its ugly head anew here and parts of Maguindanao province, there’s a need to resume dredging operations at the heavily silted Rio Grande de Mindanao River, an official said on Wednesday. Aniceto Rasalan, secretary to the city mayor’s office, said that Malacañang has suspended the dredging [...]

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/28 September) – The Sea-Base Anti-Trafficking Task Force (SBATTF) have arrested two human trafficking suspects and rescued 11 victims in this city, police officials disclosed Wednesday. Supt. Celso Bael, head of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime’s (PCTC) Western Mindanao field office, said the suspects were arrested Monday at a private wharf in [...]

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/28 Sept) – Typhoon “Pedring” (international name: Nesat) forced officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to cancel what could have been their last regular media conference and a scheduled “recognition night” Wednesday if not for the recent Supreme Court decision not in favor of Malacañang. Elected ARMM officials headed by [...]

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/28 Sept) – The city government has sought the assistance of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman for the approximately 46,000 undocumented Filipino workers in Malaysia who are given only until October 10 to process their papers or face arrest and deportation. Mayor Celso Lobregat made the request after he received a [...]

SINAYAWAN, Valencia City (MindaNews/28 Sept) – An organic rice expert from the National Irrigation Administration predicted that Bukidnon and the rest of Northern Mindanao’s rice lands will be organic by 2013 with a program boosting the demonstration of organic rice farming throughout the region. Ildefonso Natingga Jr., NIA-10 organic rice demonstration officer, told MindaNews recently [...]

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/28 September) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has established two nurseries in Barangay La Paz, an upland farming village here, and is in the propagation stage of a Ceylon Tea variety in preparation to establish tea production center for this city and the region. Orlando Telmo, DA La Paz experiment station superintendent, [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/28 Sept) – The local government of nearby Koronadal City has declared the entire October as business month in celebration of the city’s 11th cityhood anniversary on Oct. 8. Koronadal Mayor Peter Miguel said they have set aside the month of October to celebrate the city’s gains as an emerging agro-industrial center [...]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/28 Sept) – At least 500 members of the “Wednesday Club” gathered at the Capitol grounds today to celebrate their first anniversary with the theme “Pakigbisog para sa kausaban” (struggle towards change). In an interview Wednesday, Ching Roa, executive committee coordinator of Wednesday Club, said they organized the club mainly to [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/28 Sept) – As the North Star was to ancient sailors, so “Continuity” is to MILF in their negotiation with the Philippine Government. “Follow the North Star or you get lost” was the first commandment of ancient sailors. Following the Declaration of Continuity is the only way to go forward is MILF’s unbending position.

Although flood waters have receded, the roads at the Zenada Subdivision in Barangay Rosary Heights 8 in Cotabato City are still covered with water. Heavy rains in the past days have affected 16 towns in Maguindanao. MindaNews photo by Gigi Bueno | Read Story

Leaders of indigenous communities in Bukidnon have refused to engage in any discussion over the planned construction of the Pulangui V Hydroelectric Project (HEP), until dam proponents submit a cultural impact assessment that will detail the damage the dam will cause the tribes.

The dam, which is expected to generate 300 megawatts into the Mindanao grid, and 1,256 gigawatt hours of cheap renewable energy nationwide, is touted to provide more than half the projected power shortage in Mindanao by 2014. Since it is renewable energy, Pulangui V HEP will generate very cheap power.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/27 September) – The lead role in implementing internal security operations in South Cotabato will be turned over this week to the provincial government, as the province is now “insurgency-free”, an Army official today said. Lt. Col. Alex Noel Bravo, commander of the 27th Infantry Battalion, said the AFP will sign a [...]

BULUAN, Maguindanao (MindaNews/27 September) — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Maguindanao has approved a resolution placing the province under a state of calamity due to the floods that affected 16 towns, Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said on Tuesday. This developed as four people have been confirmed killed due to the floods that hit Maguindanao since September 19, [...]

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/27 September) – Four people, including a four-year-old boy, were massacred in a remote barangay of Zamboanga del Sur province, a police official disclosed Tuesday. Zamboanga del Sur police director Senior Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela said the incident took place around 5 a.m. Monday in Barangay Bogayo, Kumalarang town. Gucela identified the victims [...]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/27 September) — Admitting there have been some weak spots in local intelligence coordination as shown in the recent abduction of prominent trader Manuel Boniao, the city mayor has agreed to the holding of a “security summit”. Senior Supt. Noel Armilla, police regional intelligence division chief earlier said Boniao’s kidnap should [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/27 September) – The provincial government of South Cotabato is planning to establish its own gasoline station or fuel retail filling outlet in a bid to augment its income and stabilize the local government’s fuel supplies. South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. said they held discussions earlier this month with officials of [...]

A boy fetching water walks past a deserted Taviran Elementary School in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao Tuesday (27 Sept. 2011). The school has suspended classes since Thursday due to the floods as Maguindanao declared a state of calamity because of the calamity that affected 16 towns. MindaNews photo by Gigi Bueno | Read Story

Contestants from the Lorenzo Elementary School of Balabagan, Lanao del Sur give their all during the Kasadya street dancing contest Tuesday (Sept. 27, 2011). The group won in last year’s contest. The street dancing is part of the activities of the Diyandi Festival that will culminate on Sept. 29, feast of St. Michael, Iligan’s patron [...]

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/26 Sept) – Breakaway rebel leader Ameril Umra Kato is no longer keen on returning to the fold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a rebel spokesman said Monday. Von Al Haq, MILF spokesman, told MindaNews that Kato did not seek MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim in the past two weeks, [...]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/26 Sept) – Even with the release of kidnap victim Manuel Boniao over the weekend, a senior police officer said they will still pursue the case “with or without” the cooperation of the victim and his family. Chief Inspector Reynante Reyes, chief of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG 10), said [...]

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/26 Sept) – The Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion has denied allegations by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that soldiers tortured a suspected bomber arrested in Pikit, North Cotabato last week. “We assure the public that subject suspect bomber was not tortured,” said Lt. Col. Benjamin L. Hao, 7IB commanding officer, referring to [...]

MAKATI CITY (MindaNews/26 Sept) – The government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program and the subsidized universal health insurance under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) cannot be the end goal of its poverty strategy, the chair of the National Anti-Poverty Commission told a conference here dubbed “Pathways to High and Inclusive Growth.” NAPC chair Joel [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY(MindaNews/26 Sept) – The city government has ordered the “partial suspension” of the ongoing development works at SM City General Santos after a portion of the structure collapsed early Sunday and injured four construction workers. Engr. John Marc Reyes, acting city engineer, said they directed construction firm Monolith Construction and Development Corporation (MCDC) [...]

BEIJING (MindaNews/26 Sept) – Beijing on Monday chided the Philippines for its attempt to create a “united front” among other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly claimants in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), against China. “The Philippines has lost its cool over the territorial disputes. It clamors for a [...]

A lumad shows tourists the art of weaving in Malasag Eco Village in Cagayan de Oro City last Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. MindaNews photo by Froilan Gallardo

PENANG, Malaysia (MindaNews/26 Sept) – It has not always been easy to realise and accept that we come from a society that is angry, and to a certain extent, have turned physically violent towards others. In the young minds of Moros who have perennially experienced discrimination and hardships, the expression of anger becomes the probable [...]

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/25 September) — After six months, an ally turned staunch critic of Sagittarius Mines Inc. finally broke his silence on the murder of three people within the mines development site, saying he’s willing to face the charges hurled against him. Dagil Capion has been in hiding since the ambush last March 25 in [...]

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/25 September) – Impasugong, Bukidnon’s 134-year old town has been proposed to be declared as the tribal capital of the province. Provincial Board member Nemesio Beltran Jr. said the proposal is now in the hands of four committees of the board. Established in 1877, Impasugong has been able to preserve its cultural heritage [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/25 September) – Talking peace with the Philippine government is like flying a plane where one may experience jitters despite having done it many times, said Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal. “You’re flying the airplane many times. Even if you are flying the airplane many times, it does [...]

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/25 September) – Thirteen alleged members of the Moro National Liberation Front and two soldiers were killed in an attack Sunday on a US-funded school project in Sulu, an official said. Sulu provincial spokesperson Sonny Abing III, said in an emailed statement that the firefight broke out around 5 a.m. Sunday when around [...]

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/25 September) – The provincial government of Basilan is embarking on a program to increase local rubber production. Gov. Jum Akbar said they have established a rubber tree nursery to initially produce at least 300,000 seedlings to be planted in different areas across the province. Akbar said the seedlings will be distributed for [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/25 September) — Four people were injured when the fourth floor of the car park building of the SM mall complex in General Santos City that was undergoing construction collapsed at dawn Sunday. Construction activities were immediately halted at the east wing of the mall along San Miguel Street, according to City [...]

While landmarks could be most common travel guide, the native delicacies sold in terminals and even along the highways could also tell you where you are. Such is the case if one takes a trip along North Cotabato. If you’re coming from Cotabato City, the first place where the bus would stop is Pigcawayan, a [...]

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/24 September) — Unless the provincial environment code of South Cotabato is declared void and contrary to existing laws, Gov. Arthur Pingoy said he is duty-bound to implement the landmark local legislation which bans open-pit mining in the province. “As the governor of this province, I will implement the ordinance that there will [...]

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/24 September) — Rains spawned by a low pressure area this week have flooded eight towns in Maguindanao and affected 34,491families or 154,750 individuals , according to data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The floods affected 12 barangays of Sultan sa Barongis, [...]

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/24 September) – A workshop among scientists and experts should be held to determine the behavior and condition of crocodiles inhabiting Agusan Marsh in order to come up with appropriate measures in managing their habitat, a scientist on Thursday said. Dr. Jurgenne H.  Primavera, an Agusan-born biologist said the workshop should come up [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/24 September) — It could just be a case of misery loving company or an attempt to downplay the effect of a recent split in their group, but for Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal, it is normal for any revolutionary organization to undergo factional strife, citing the experiences [...]

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/24 September) – The bodies of two persons believed to be victims of summary executions were found in a coastal barangay east of this city, a police official disclosed Saturday. City police director Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo said the bodies, one of which was beheaded, were discovered around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/24 September) — Prof. Rudy Buhay Rodil suggests that the term captures the defining attribute of resilience as a human trait, and so I bannered it to introduce my report on the Mindanao Resilient Communities Project that I recently completed for Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao. The project was funded by the [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/24 September) — Besieged and wanting of channels to air and defend its project, mining giant Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) has embarked on an elaborate media campaign, promising transparency and asking “balanced reporting” from the press. John Arnaldo, former Shell PR man, is now apparently the new face of SMI as all [...]

Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Peace Panel, shows a book on the peace process in a talk before participants to the Governance and Justice (Go Just) Forum at the MIC Retreat House in Davao City on Saturday, September 24, 2011. MindaNews photo by Ruby Thursday More | Read Story