Fire destroys iconic CDO hotel
A fire of unknown origin gutted the ground floor of VIP Hotel, the most iconic hotel in Cagayan de Oro City, Sunday morning.
In a statement, the management of VIP Hotel said none of its guests and customers were injured in the fire that started at the lobby around 5:40 am. The fire sent plumes of gray smoke in Velez Street, where the hotel is located.
The management thanked the Bureau of Fire Protection and the CDO volunteer fire brigade of the Filipino-Chinese Community for their quick response in putting out the fire.
The VIP Hotel, owned by the Canoy family, has been a landmark establishment in Cagayan de Oro. Due to its delicious local cuisine, it has become one of the favorite meeting places of old families and professionals in the city.
MILF in-fighting triggers displacement in Maguindanao town
Clashes between warring units of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last week have triggered an evacuation of hundreds of residents in Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao del Sur.
Major General Alex Rillera, commander of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, urged the MILF Central Committee to pacify the two warring factions belonging to the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces’ 118th and 105th brigades in Sitio Irrigation, Barangay Meta in Datu Unsay town.
Rillera said the two groups have been fighting for control of some land in Sitio Irrigation.
He said at least 200 residents fled their homes after some members of the warring MILF factions started burning houses.
Manhunt on for cohorts of slain Lanao Sur village chief
The Philippine National Police in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP BARMM) has launched a manhunt for the companions of a slain barangay chairman who was allegedly involved in gunrunning operations in Lanao del Sur.
Lt. Colonel Ariel Huesca, PNP BARMM Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, said the slain official, Billy Jack Ogca of Barangay Poblacion in Balabagan town, was killed during a buy-bust operation last Saturday.
Huesca said Ogca was fatally wounded after he allegedly traded shots with a team of policemen in Balabagan town.
He said four of Ogca’s companions managed to escape after the shootout.
Huesca said they recovered an M14 rifle, two M16 rifles, an M4 rifle and two Cal. 45 hand guns that Ogca allegedly tried to sell to an undercover police officer.
