EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 9 ISSUE 201 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016
www.edgedavao.net
P 15.00 • 20 PAGES
Serving a seamless society
INNOCENT BLISS. Happiness is written all over the faces of Lumad children from Agusan despite the hardship they are experiencing during their sojourn in Davao City to ask for Christmas gifts. These Lumads are temporarily staying under the flyover in Agdao. Lean Daval Jr.
UNRUFFLED Rody shrugs off threats, pushes through with Lanao del Sur visit By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ
D
adlopez0920@gmail.com
ESPITE the ambush of his advance party on Tuesday in Marawi City, President Duterte still pushed through with his visit in Lanao del Sur on Wednesday to personally assess the situation of government troopers involved in on-going military operations against the Maute Group, a terror group that attacked the town of Butig six days ago. Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said the President was in the AFP’s (Armed Forces of the Philippines) tactical command post in Lumbayanague town in Lanao del Sur on Wednesday. Westmincom spokesperson Major Felimon Tan said
President Duterte personally checked the situation of government troopers directly involved in the military operations against the Maute Group. Lumbayanague is a fourth class municipality in Lanao del Sur located near Lake Lanao and adjacent to Butig town. “Early today, President Rodrigo Duterte along with a few advisers visited troops of the 103rd Brigade who are at the forefront of the fight against members of a local terrorist group known locally as the Maute Group,” the AFP said in a separate statement on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of
the Department of National Defense and other top officers of the AFP. The AFP said the President had a closed door briefing and meeting with security officials. He also met with the troops and the local officials in the area. “He encouraged the troops to persevere and do their work with the guarantee of his all out support. He also mentioned that as the President of the Republic, he has in mind the welfare of all the people and the entire nation and very much wants peace to reign all over the land but not at the expense of peace loving citizens,” the AFP added.
President Duterte also went to Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday afternoon to visit the wounded troopers involved in the continuing military operations. When interviewed by the media after checking the conditions of the wounded soldiers, the President said he is doing everything to prevent war. “Sana huwag na lang tayong umabot ng giyera,” he stressed, but warned the Maute group: “Do not force my hands to do it.” He said the military operations will go on.
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Cotabato City celebrates Shariff Kabungsuan Festival By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ
A
LL is set for Cotabato City’s Shariff Kabunsuan Festival on December 15 to 19, 2016. In a press conference for Bangala Fashion Fair, a BIMP-EAGA event in line with the festival, yesterday
in Davao City, Cotabato City tourism officer Ms. Norianne Lou “Gurlie” Frondoza underscored that the festival is distinct from other festivals because its opening program will involve the three royal
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FLUVIAL ATTRACTION. Guinakit Fluvial Parade, one of the highlights of Cotabato CIty’s Shariff Kabunsuan Festival on December 15-19, 2016. Photo by City Government of Cotabato