Balay Mindanaw members mark 26th anniversary of ill-fated Cebu Pacific Flight 387
CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews / 02 February) — A handful of friends and relatives trekked to the Flight 387 Shrine here last year to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Cebu Pacific plane crash on the slopes of Mt. Sumagaya.
Among them were members of Balay Mindanaw led by its chairperson, Charlito Manlupig, who came to the shrine to pray and pay respects to two of their colleagues—Bob Gana and Caloy Ollado– who were among the 99 passengers and five crew members who perished in the crash on Feb. 2, 1998.
This time, however, Manlupig and Balay Mindanaw members went to the Oro Gardens Memorial Park where most of the fatalities were buried.
“This year, Balay Mindanaw is breaking a tradition. Partly. Today we are joining the activities at the Oro Gardens where a memorial marker has been erected and dedicated to those who perished,” Manlupig said in his Facebook post.
Donna Banaynal, a Balay Mindanaw member, told Brigada Cagayan de Oro she is also praying for her classmate, Mark Anthony Flores, who was among the fatalities. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
10 rebels killed in military operations in Agusan Norte
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 02 February) — The Army today said their military operations killed 10 New People’s Army rebels in a series of encounters in Agusan del Norte in the past two weeks.
Major Francisco Garillo Jr., spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division said two rebels also surrendered during the military operations that netted 14 firearms.
Garillo said one of the rebels who surrendered led soldiers to a cache of six AK 47 rifles in Sitio Malambago in Barangay Sangay, Buenavista town.
He said “Mark,” the rebel who surrendered told the soldiers that the remaining NPA members who are still in the mountains are suffering hardships because of dwindling support from residents. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
Thousands of books donated to school children, public library in Marawi
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 02 February) — The Malaysian government and book retailer Big Bad Wolf had donated more than 1,000 books for school children in Marawi City, the Philippine News Agency reported.
In an interview last Thursday in Cagayan de Oro, Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino said they hope to help improve the literacy rate in Marawi with the book donation.
Castelino said the book donation was coursed through the King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies at Mindanao State University.
“We hope that this will be the start of expanding this project, aiming for the whole Mindanao as recipients,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, the Cotabato-based Albert Einstein School donated more than 10,000 books to replace those that were destroyed in the public library in Marawi City during the 2017 siege.
The books were given to Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr in Marawi last Tuesday. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
14 Scout Rangers cited for “courage, gallantry” in combat
MARAWI CITY (MindaNews / 02 February) — The Army awarded medals to 14 Scout Rangers who saw action in the operation against the Dawlah Islamiyah that left nine militants killed in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur last week, according to the Philippine Information Agency.
Lt Gen William Gonzalez, commander of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command awarded the medals to the soldiers, all members of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion.
The awards included the Military Merit Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Star, the second highest military decoration in combat.
Gonzalez cited the officers and soldiers for “acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry during the firefight with 15 DI-MG members in Barangay Tapurog in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.” (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
