PNP files case vs. BIFF over Midsayap attack

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 3): PNP files case vs. BIFF over Midsayap attack
 
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in North Cotabato has formally filed a case against the members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom fighter (BIFF) who recently attacked two villages in Midsayap town that resulted to the death of one soldier and two civilians.

Sr. Supt. Danilo Peralta, provincial PNP director, said Task Group Malingao, the special body created to investigate the Midsayap attack, filed the case Wednesday before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office here.

Peralta said the BIFF is being charged in violation of RA 9851 "Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity", alongside four BIFF commanders who led the Sept. 23 attacks in the villages of Malingao and Polomuguen in Midsayap.

He briefly identified two respondents in the case only as Commanders DM and Abas Kudanding, both field lieutenants of BIFF leader Ameril Umbra Kato.

Peralta said they have a strong case against the BIFF based on the testimonies of the civilians trapped during the encounter that included the widow of Ricarte Junio, 31, a farmer beheaded by the rebels and his companion Erwin Viloan, 22, who was shot execution style in the head and body.

On Sept. 23, the BIFF rebels attacked Malingao and Polomuguen and hostaged 13 teachers of the Malingao Elementary School following an encounter with military forces.

The rebels freed the mentors, who were used as human shields, later.

The clash resulted to the death of two rebels and one Cpl. Robert Baling, 26, of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion.

Also, some 2,000 families from the villages of Malingao, Polomuguen, Salunayan, Agriculture, Bual Norte, Ned, Tugal, Nabalawag and Rangaban evacuated to safer grounds due to the atrocities.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=572307