COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Officials and food producers of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) participated for the first time in the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) hosted by the Philippine government and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo described the maiden participation of ARMM delegation led by Acting Regional Governor Ansaruddin Alonto-Adiong a “very significant” in the Aquino administration’s thrust to bring the country’s export economy to greater heights.

At a media forum in Cotabato City last Wednesday, ARMM officials said they would give their best shot at the 8th IFEX convergence. (Ali G. Macabalang)

Leader survives shooting

BUTUAN CITY (PNA) - A lady Mamanwa tribal leader survived an assassination attempt by three unidentified suspects who shot her along the provincial road in Barangay Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte Thursday morning.

The Caraga Police Regional Information office identified the victim as Evangeline “Vangie” Bago Porogoy, daughter of Mamanwa tribal chieftain Toto Bago and currently board of director of the Taganito Indigenous People’s Management Development.

Initial police investigation showed Porogoy was walking with her husband and other Mamanwa tribe members toward Barangay Taganito proper when three suspects shot the victim and fled.

Cops nab man with grenade

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A suspected terrorist was arrested at a military check point at the village of Talon-Talon in this city on Thursday night.

The police identified the suspect as Jerry Jubain, 26, married and a resident of Barangay Landang Gua, Sacol Island off this city. Military operatives nabbed Saloayay at a military check point after he was found in possession of a hand grenade.

Recovered from the suspect was a round cylinder containing the fragmentation grenade marked “GRE hand frag TNT MK2 D-4111-78” with visible M204A1 12-76 marking on top, the police said. Zamboanga City Police Office. (Nonoy E. Lacson)

Construction equipment burned

BUTUAN CITY – At least 20 unidentified heavily armed men swooped down at a quarry site of a construction firm and burned several heavy equipment Tuesday evening at Sitio Looc, Barangay Luna, Surigao City, a sketchy report reaching the police regional command and tactical operation center here said.

Initial report received by Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez here from Surigao City Police Office (SCPO) also stated that the armed men arrived on foot at 9:45 in the evening and surprised the security guard and torched the heavy equipment. (Mike U. Crismundo)

Iillegally cut timber seized

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Agents of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Region 12 raided a bodega in a remote village in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and confiscated about 12,987.74 board feet of illegally cut timber.

DENR-12 area superintendent Forester Leonisa Alfaro said members of the DENR biodiversity monitoring team discovered last week the illegally cut timber at a warehouse in Barangay Tasiman in Lake Sebu. The team reported the discovery to the DENR-12 regional office. (Nonoy Lacson)