Hundreds displaced as AFP, NPA clash in North Cotabato town

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 23): Hundreds displaced as AFP, NPA clash in North Cotabato town

Fresh hostilities erupted anew between state forces and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sitio Malapangi, Barangay Camutan here on Thursday dawn, sending some 100 families scampering to safer grounds.

Chief Insp. Rolando Dillera, chief of Antipas police force, said that government troops encountered close to 100 rebels shortly around 4;00 a.m., prompting villagers to vacate their homes for fear they will be caught in the crossfire.

Dillera said the running gun battle later spilled over to the adjacent villages of Agot and Malire.
The bulk of evacuees are temporarily sheltered at the municipal gymnasium here while others chose to seek refuge at houses of relatives at the town center.

School classes in the affected villages were also suspended.

Municipal social welfare personnel are now attending to the needs of the displaced families.

Dillera said fighting remains intense in the adjoining mountain villages situated some eight kilometers from the town proper.

Intelligence reports said that the rebels are using the area as a staging point to launch attacks against military installations in the boundaries of Arakan and Magpet towns.

“We also received reports the NPA rebels have built a camp in the interior of the mountain village,’’ Dillera disclosed.

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