Families displaced by armed hostilities launched by lawless
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in North
Cotabato have received relief assistance from the provincial
government, officials said today.
More than 200 families have deserted their communities in
the villages of Malagakit and Simsiman, all in Pigcawayan, North
Cotabato on December 24 last year when BIFF attacked the villages
and killed a village “kagawad.”
The affected families went to the town center and stayed
there during Christmas Day until after the New Year revelry was over. Some
remained in evacuation sites at night but return to their farms at day time.
Marchita Capilitan, provincial social welfare focal person,
and Jessie Enid, provincial health and legal matters focal person, led the
relief distribution of food packs that contained rice, sardines, noodles and
other immediate necessities for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS).
Marian Joy Quilban, Pigcawayan town social welfare officer,
said the IDPs have been staying temporarily at the municipal gymnasium.
Quilban was elated to see the office of the provincial
governor immediately responded to her request for augmentation of relief
assistance.
“The provincial government has immediately provided
assistance to the IDP’s which eased their difficulties after running away from
their houses. We are very grateful that even during holiday the PSWDO and the
PGO sent their personnel to give much needed help”, Quilban said.
Besides Barangays Malagakit and Simsiman, adjacent barangays
of Banucagon and Central Paatan were also
attacked by BIFF bandits as they fled toward the Maguindanao marshland.
Quilban said Pigcawayan social welfare office listed 232
families or 1,039 individuals.
Gov. Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza has condemned the
atrocities by the BIFF and directed the police to ensure the safety of
civilians.
“It is heartbreaking to know that the attack occurred on
Christmas Eve and that some lives were lost with hundreds of innocent civilians
left their homes, but this will not deter us from doing our duties and
responsibilities to our constituents with continued hope that long-lasting
peace will soon prevail in the province,” she said.
She called for vigilance and calm amid threats from lawless
groups in the North Cotabato-Maguindanao borders, assuring villagers provincial
government is doing everything to restore normalcy in affected barangays and
for evacuees to return safely to their homes.
“I urged everyone to maintain their calmness and continue to
be alert and coordinate with the authorities if you have monitored untoward
incidents or the presence of suspicious looking individuals,” Mendoza
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=845279
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