Soldiers, cops remain on alert in N. Cotabato as threats from lawless groups continue

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 2): Soldiers, cops remain on alert in N. Cotabato as threats from lawless groups continue

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato -- Police and military forces here remain on alert even after the holidays as threats of harassment from lawless elements including drug syndicates persist, a police official on Monday said.

Superintendent Bernard Tayong, town police chief, said soldiers from the 34th Infantry Battalion and Midsayap PNP will continue to implement checkpoints in areas identified to be crime and conflict prone areas, particularly in the borders of Midsayap and Datu Piang in Maguindanao.

On New Year's Eve, suspected members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) harassed an Army base in Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayap which left one woman slightly injured.

Tayong said about 30 BIFF members, led by Commander Tato Pauya and Commander Tong, traded shots with elements of the 34th IB until about 1 a.m. on New Year's Day.

Tayong said the wife of the soldier, identified as Norcel Bulay-Bulay, was hit by shrapnel in her heard.

When the soldiers retaliated, the gunmen fled back to Datu Piang. Nabalawag is the last barangay of Midsayap before the boundary with Datu Piang.

Bulay-Bulay was rushed by to Amado Diaz hospital in Poblacion Midsayap and later transferred to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.

It was not clear if the BIFF suffered casualties during the two-hour long sporadic exchange of gunfire.

Midsayap has been repeatedly attacked by BIFF and drug syndicates the past months, the latest of which was the Christmas Eve grenade attack on a police patrol car that left 17 injured, including a police officer.

Police believed the attack was not directed at the Church but for the police in retaliation to its successful anti-illegal drug campaign.

Another band of BIFF also harassed an Army base in nearby Barangay Elian in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao. No casualty was reported.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=952208