Sunday, October 13, 2013

Afraid of BIFF atrocities, Maguindanao displaced families refuse to return home

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 14): Afraid of BIFF atrocities, Maguindanao displaced families refuse to return home

About 100 families displaced by atrocities committed by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) last week remained in evacuation centers in the municipality of Datu Piang, Maguindanao, officials Monday said.

The displaced families who are currently housed in makeshift evacuation area inside the Kanguan Elementary School in Datu Piang were all from nearby Datu Shariff Saydona town, according to Datu Piang Vice Mayor Rasul Ebus.

Ebus said the displaced families vacated their homes when BIFF and government forces figured in sporadic firefight after the BIFF attacked Army positions in Saydona.

"While the local government provided them emergency assistance, it cannot be forever since we also have our own displaced families in Datu Piang that we need to attend to," Ebus told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview.

The military launched offensives against BIFF in Barangay Ganta, Datu Shariff Saydona after they set off a roadside improvised explosive device that hit a passing Army truck.

Ebus said the civilians refused to return home since the BIFF are still in their villages.

The BIFF, composed of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas who broke away in 2008 over ideological differences, had been targeting military installations, checkpoints and outposts in Maguindanao.

Aside from setting off improvised bombs near Army bases, the BIFF also planted IEDs in two of the bridges in Datu Piang and Datu Saydona municipalities in an effort to prevent military hardware from responding and reinforcing government forces battling the rebels.

Speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, Col. Dickson Hermoso said the military in the towns of Datu Piang, Datu Saydona, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak, Mamasapano and Datu Hofer remained on alert to prevent BIFF from harassing civilian communities and taking control of major highways.

The BIFF, composed of about 1,000 armed followers were blamed by the military for atrocities in the border municipalities of Midsayap, Aleosan, Pikit, Matalam and Tulunan, all in North Cotabato.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=576100

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