DSWD attends to needs of families displaced by NPA-Army clash in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 19): DSWD attends to needs of families displaced by NPA-Army clash in North Cotabato

The municipal social welfare office of the local government of Magpet, North Cotabato is now attending to the needs of more than 100 families who fled their homes following the ambush by suspected communist guerrillas against the Army and the subsequent military operations.

Antonia Fernnadez, Magpet social welfare chief, said two remote villages are affected by the armed conflict which began Sunday after New Peoples Army (NPA) guerrillas set off landmines on soldiers pursuing them in the village of Manobisa, Magpet.

In that ambush, two Scout Ranger soldiers were killed and three others were hurt when land mines were set off by the rebels in Sitio Timodos, Barangay Manobisa.

Fernandez said 96 families have fled from Sitio Manobisa and seeking shelter at the multipurpose building in the village center. About 60 other families from Sitio Salingsing also fled and stayed at multipurpose building of nearby Barangay Amabel.

The evacuees decided to flee as they heard regular gun burst from both the rebels and the military.

Fernandez said the town social welfare office had already distributed relief good packs to affected families.

She said the town's health office also sent health workers to attend to the health needs of the affected families,especially the children.

Lt. Colonel Nilo Vinluan, 57th Infantry Battalion commander, said pursuit operation against the members of NPA Front 53, was on going following the ambush.

The rebels were part of the NPA team that attacked the police station in Matanao, Davao del Sur that left two cops dead and the subsequent ambush they staged against pursuing elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion.

After the Matanao incident, the NPAs moved to North Cotabato, the military said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=626893