Residents from the hinterlands of Aleosan, North Cotabato flee to the national highway to escape clashes between the military and BIFF. (photo by Ferdz Ballentes, InterAksyon.com)
The series of clashes between the military and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters over the past few days have displaced 9,770 persons, or 2,275 families, in two North Cotabato towns.
The evacuations began August 10 amid battles that saw exchanges of artillery and mortar fire.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and management Council said 670 families, or 3,350 individuals, fled their homes in Aleosan town and another 1,605 families, or 6,420 individuals, in Pikit.
The BIFF is a guerrilla faction that broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front after it disagreed with the direction peace talks between government and the main rebel organization were taking.
The government and MILF expected to sign a final peace agreement before the year ends.
Since last month, the BIFF has carried out sporadic attacks in North Cotabato and Maguindanao, some of which have involved bomb attacks on bridges and Army convoys.
However, the group has denied responsibility for the August 5 car bomb attack in Cotabato City that killed eight persons and wounded more than 30 others. Cotabato Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. has said he believes he and his sister, city administrator Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, were the targets of the attack, which be blamed on criminal gangs linked to political enemies.
The bomb exploded just after Guiani-Sayadi had passed by.
The Cotabato blast happened 10 days after another bombing in Cagayan de Oro City that killed eight people and wounded 46 others.
Authorities have tagged the little known Khilafa Islamiah Mindanao to the Cagayan de Oro attack.
Murder charges have been filed against Usman Hapdis, who police claim is the group’s leader.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/68501/afp-biff-clashes-displace-close-to-10000-in-north-cotabato
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