Govt forces clear village occupied by BIFF in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 23): Govt forces clear village occupied by BIFF in North Cotabato

Police and soldiers cleared here Monday afternoon a remote village previously occupied by renegade Moro rebels in what authorities believed was triggered by family feud. Four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) were killed in the clash after the rebels stormed the village of lower Paatan, strafed house with automatic rifles and demanded protection money from residents, according to Col. Benjie Hao, 7th Infantry Division commander. Hao said the attackers also demanded food provision from frightened residents who quickly alerted the police and the military. When policemen led by Kabacan police director Supt. Leo Ajero and soldiers under Col. Hao arrived, the rebels put up a brief firefight but eventually left hurriedly when the 7th IB armored personnel carriers arrived. Ajero said the attackers, led by a certain Commander Pax, escaped towards Barangay Cuyapon, a village near the marshland and across the village of Libutan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.... According to Ajero, the bandits wanted to drive away Muslim and Christian civilians in an area they claim the land area. To prevent BIFF Commander Pax and his men from returning to the village, Supt. Ajero organized a village defender team to patrol the surroundings at night time.

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