More BIFF rebels die in Army offensive in Maguindanao, North Cotabato borders

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 28): More BIFF rebels die in Army offensive in Maguindanao, North Cotabato borders

More Moro bandits were reported killed as the Army offensive against Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) entered its second day.

Local officials in Maguindanao and North Cotabato told reporters at least 19 BIFFs have been killed, with most of the bodies taken by their comrades.

Thousands of civilians also fled their homes anew as sporadic skirmishes between BIFF and government forces continued Tuesday.

Disaster officials in the provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato initially placed the number of affected families at about 5,000.

But Atty. Laisa Alamia, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) executive secretary, said that some 9,070 individuals or 1,814 families have fled their homes since Sunday due to the continuing clashes.

North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza, aware of possible human dislocation as a result of the military offensive against BIFF in the borders with Maguindanao, has sent Sonia Ortega, provincial disaster risk reduction management officer, to Pikit to assess the needs of displaced families.

Tahira Kalantongan, Pikit town disaster officer, said the number of displaced individuals from interior villages could reach 5,000 and even more.

“We continue to assess, the number is increasing by the minute,” Kalantongan said in an interview. She added per barangay population, the number of evacuees could reach more than 5,000 persons.

She said the villages of Kabasalan and Paidu Pulangi, two communities of Pikit had been deserted since Monday.

“We have enough food packs for them but their problem was lack of kitchen utensils since they hurriedly left Monday dawn,” she said.

Santos Sulayman, a resident of Barangay Kabasalan, Pikit, North Cotabato, Kabasalan, said most of the evacuees left with their valuables.

Barangay Kabasalan is located in the middle of the marshland and the mode of transportation was wooden boat.

Moro families who do not own a banca had to cross the river by foot. “Others had to swim across the river," he added.

The affected Maguinanao towns are Datu Piang, Sultan sa Barongis, Datu Shariff Saydona and its residents have already fled to safer grounds.

“Our relief personnel with enough food supplies are already on the ground to assist the displaced families," Alamia, also ARMM's Humanitarian Emergency and Relief Team (HEART) chairperson, told reporters.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, speaking for the military, said the surgical offensive continuous Tuesday with still no military casualty.

Hermoso said only three BIFF fatalities were confirmed but local officials in the affected communities told police and military personnel that the BIFF had 19 fatalities.“The reported 19 dead on the BIFF side is being verified, we only recovered three dead bodies," he said.

Local officials backed military action versus the BIFF.

“The Army offensive against the BIFF was an indication of the government’s commitment to peace and justice while we at the local government units should be prepared at all times to take care of the internally displaced persons and victims of violence,” Gov. Mendoza said in a statement.

“The skirmishes should not put to waste the gains of the peace process,” she added.

Hermoso said the military is helping the police in serving arrest warrants against BIFF members facing kidnapping, bombing, extortion and murder charges.

Abu Misry Mama, speaking for the BIFF, denied the Army claims they suffered 19 dead. "We will not surrender, we will remain on a defensive position," he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=610262