3 die as BIFM attacks farming village in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 22): 3 die as BIFM attacks farming village in North Cotabato

 Lawless elements belonging to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) on Monday dawn harassed a farming village in Kabacan, North Cotabato, that left a civilian volunteer dead and a militiaman wounded.  Col. Prudencio Asto, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said at least two members of the lawless group were killed when government forces and the Kabacan police launched pursuit operations at 6:30 a.m. Monday.... Col. Benjamin Hao, 7th Infantry Battalion commander, said about 30 BIFM forces attacked the village of Lower Paatan, Kabacan, fired at houses and took away work animals.... Hao said the attackers were led by a certain Commander Pax Kadatuan of the BIFM, who is fighting with a group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Barangay Libutan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Kabacan, which is in North Cotabato, is adjacent to Mamasapano town in Maguindanao separated by the Liguasan marshland.... Col. Edgardo Gonzales, chief of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, said the conflict in Mamasapano was triggered by a long standing family feud. The incident in Kabacan was a spill over, according to Col. Asto. Asto said Commander Dagadas of the MILF’s 118th Base Command leads the group fighting with the BIFF bandits led by Indo Omal, a henchman of Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato. As a result of the Mamasapano conflict, at least 430 families have fled to safer grounds according to Mayor Benzar Ampatuan.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=464582