Northern Mindanao updates

Security problems have alarmingly stymied a multi-billion foreign-funded agricultural project in Lanao del Sur that could potentially employ thousands of workers.

Maranao communities want immediate government intervention on the issue.

Last year’s supposed start of the large-scale soybean and corn propagation by a joint Filipino-American outfit in arable lands of the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) in Amai Manabilang, Lanao Del Sur failed to proceed as programmed due to threats from armed men. — The STAR/John Unson

Six policemen and a retired police sergeant died while 20 others were hurt in a multiple vehicular accident in Naawan, Misamis Oriental at past 9:00 a.m. Saturday.

In a statement, the Naawan Municipal Police Station identified the fatalities as Police Staff Sergeants Michael Ermac, Reuyan Marjun, Jevilou Cañeda, Eugene Lagcao, Aaron Ticar, Arnill Manoop and retired policeman Anito Abapo.

The victims were in two Toyota vans that got hit by a wayward 10-wheeler truck whose driver lost control of the steering wheel due to a mechanical trouble while maneuvering through a stretch of the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Highway in Purok 11 in Barangay Poblacion, Naawan. — The STAR/John Unson

Authorities report that the police seized P1.6 million worth of cigarettes from Indonesia found abandoned in a seaside barangay in Malabang, Lanao del Sur Friday.

Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, says Saturday Tausug-speaking boatmen brought the 116 boxes of imported cigarettes to the coastal Tambara area, but hurriedly sailed away when they sensed that villagers have reported their presence to the local police.

“Obviously, the smuggled cigarettes were consigned to a local trader,” Guyguyon says. — The STAR/John Unson

Authorities say anti-narcotics agents seized P1.7 million worth of shabu from a dealer entrapped on Tuesday in Kapatagan town in Lanao del Sur.

The 35-year-old Samsodin Diarolah, a Maranao, was immediately frisked and cuffed after selling his illegal merchandise to non-uniformed agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and plainclothes policemen.

Christian Frivaldo, director of PDEA-BARMM, says Thursday the suspect is now clamped down in their detention facility, to be prosecuted for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — The STAR/John Unson

Authorities say anti-narcotics agents seized P1.7 million worth of shabu from a dealer entrapped on Tuesday in Kapatagan town in Lanao del Sur.

The 35-year-old Samsodin Diarolah, a Maranao, was immediately frisked and cuffed after selling his illegal merchandise to non-uniformed agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and plainclothes policemen.

Christian Frivaldo, director of PDEA-BARMM, says Thursday the suspect is now clamped down in their detention facility, to be prosecuted for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — AFP

Police say a gunman on Sunday killed with seven shots a barangay chairman in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town in Lanao del Norte who was overtly supportive of the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.

In a statement Tuesday, the Lanao del Norte Provincial Police Office says investigators are still trying to identify the killer of the 54-year-old Rudi Bitangcor, chairperson of Barangay Mahayahay in Sultan Naga Dimaporo.

Sultan Naga Dimaporo, most known by its acronym SND, is home to mixed Moro and non-Moro communities. — The STAR/John Unson

The provincial government of Misamis Occidental is appealing to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to relieve their police regional director for his alleged inaction on the resurgence of the Kuratong Baleleng syndicate and of illegal drug personalities in the province. 

Newly-elected Gov. Henry Oaminal said the return of the criminal syndicate started in 2021, when some of remnants of the Kuratong Baleleng aligned with some of their political opponents.

He said the syndicate saw the end of President Rodrigo Duterte's term as a sign to stage a comeback. — The STAR/Roel Pareño

Authorities say the police has clamped down three drug peddlers nabbed Tuesday in Balindong town in Lanao del Sur.

Personnel of the Balindong Municipal Police Station found P34,000 worth of shabu in the hideout of Abubakar Jamail Didato, Hakim Didato and Aisah Mala Didato in Barangay Dadayag, raided and searched for drugs based on a court order.

Captain Joel Cabanes, chief of the Balindong municipal police, and his subordinates had also seized from the three suspects a bolt-action sniper rifle, two fragmentation grenades and a shoulder-fire launcher for 40 millimeter explosive projectiles. — The STAR/John Unson

A drunken father killed his son with one strike of a big ax to the head in a bizarre incident Monday in Jassaan town in Misamis Oriental.

In a statement, the Misamis Oriental Provincial Police said Tuesday that a suspect  is now detained, awaiting prosecution.

The MOPP said the suspect and his son were fdrinking together and had an altercation that sparked a physical fight.

The suspect took a big ax hidden in their kitchen and struck his son on the head, according to the MOPP. — The STAR/John Unson

 A police major heading the traffic unit of the Iligan City police died in a highway accident Monday in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

Police Maj. Abogado Mautin was on his way to the Police Regional Office-10 in Cagayan de Oro City when his Toyota Innova was rammed by a wayward Isuzu Forward truck while driving through a stretch of the Iligan-Cagayan de Oro Highway in Barangay Mauswagon, Laguindingan.

In a statement Monday, the Iligan City police office said he died on the spot when his vehicle was hit by a truck from the other end of the highway when its driver lost control of the wheel after its brake system malfunctioned. — The STAR/John Unson

An official says three town mayors led the surrender of seven high-powered firearms, including Barret sniper rifles, following Thursday's dialogue and diplomatic engagement with the military forces on the proliferation of loose firearms in the province.

Lt. Col. Rafman Altre, commanding officer of 82nd Infantry Battalion, met with the mayors of Buadipuso Buntong, Ditsaan Ramain and Bubong to appeal their assistance in cracking down the problem of loose firearms to address the security and peace situation in their respective towns. — The STAR/Roel Pareño

Authorities say a notorious and most wanted gang leader was killed while four of his cohorts were captured during a raid Thursday by joint marine and police operatives in Balabagan town, Lanao del Sur.

Killed in the law enforcement operation was identified as Sarao Mangadang, tagged as Balabagan’s most wanted suspect blamed for numerous killings, drug trafficking and robbery, says Lt. Col. Tino Maslan, commanding officer of Marine Battalion Landing Team-5 (MBLT).

Maslan says combined elements of the MBLT-5 with police combat forces and intelligence conducted the law enforcement to arrest Mangadang in his hideout in Barangay Barorao, Balabagan town about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. — The STAR/Roel Pareño

A firefight erupted when government troops encountered a group of New People’s Army rebels Saturday.

The encounter left militia troops wounded in the hinterland of Don Victoriano Chiongban town, Misamis Occidental.

The encounter occurred when troops from the 10th Infantry Battalion launched a combat operation on intelligence tips about the presence of the communist rebels at Barangay Tuno, said Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of Western Mindanao (Westmincom). 

"Based on the reports from the group our troops encountered 20 rebels under the Guerilla Front Sendong under the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee," Vinluan said. — The STAR/Roel Pareño

Follow this thread for updates from Northern Mindanao, which includes the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Norte.

Photo: This October 13, 2019 file photo shows part of Cagayan de Oro City, the regional center of Northern Mindnanao. (Cagayan de Oro City Facebook page)