DIPOLOG CITY, May 31 — Governor Rolando E. Yebes of ZaNorte officially opened the Grand ZaNorte Festival yesterday, May 30, in collaboration with 25 municipalities and 2 cities in the region. The opening was initiated with a parade of colorful costumes and beautifully decorated floats. The huge and long march comprised of different groups from the Local Government Unit as well as Non-Government Organizations.

MANILA — Still unidentified lawless elements hurled a grenade at bus terminal in Imelda town in Zamboanga Sibugay, fortunately hurting no one early Wednesday.

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Mayor Celso Lobregat and House Deputy Speaker Beng Climaco met with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Ding Deles and Government Peace Panel chairman Marvic Leonen Thursday night to clarify issues concerning the ongoing peace process.

The amendment of the Sin Tax Law now known as House Bill 5727 and the efforts to improve the power situation in Mindanao are among the priority measures tackled by the House of Representatives since the resumption of the sessions last Monday, May 7.

House Deputy Speaker and District I Representative Beng Climaco yesterday appealed to the public to understand her silence amidst the intrigues on the forthcoming May 2013 elections, as she undergoes through pain and grief due to the loss of a baby.

ISABELA CITY, Basilan — Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan and the Provincial Government are now setting their sights in developing tourism in the province.

MANILA — One person was killed while another one was wounded following an explosion inside a house at Baliwasan Tabuk, Barangay Baliwasan, Zamboanga City late Monday afternoon.

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Four members of the “Alih Drug Group” were separately arrested as the government's campaign against the drug syndicate continued in this southern port city, officials said Monday.

MANILA — The dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is now leaderless following the killing of top terrorist leaders in Sulu the past six months, according to a ranking Philippine Air Force (PAF) official.

MANILA — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is now conducting security audit on its website after two consecutive hacking attacks on Wednesday.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Power and wealth-sharing, territory and transitional mechanisms and duration would remain the major bones of contention in the Mindanao peace process that the government wants to end this year, an official said.

MANILA — The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will hold their 27th round of formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur on April 23-27 in a bid to find a just and lasting solution to the decades-old Mindanao conflict.

MANILA — Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have foiled an attempt of six heavily armed men to rescue a suspected drug lord, who was on his way to court in Zamboanga City Monday.