Around 2,000 families fled their homes as security forces and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have been fighting in Midsayap, Cotabato since Monday morning.
Homes in Barangay Malingaw testified to the ferocity of the fighting, GMA 7 news program “24 Oras” reported on Tuesday. A house was riddled with shrapnel holes, and even a mosque was not spared from the gunfire.
The evacuees, meanwhile, were packed into emergency evacuation centers, with some forced to sleep under the open sky as the centers were filled up.
The fighting has left 12 dead, with one fatality, farmer Ricarte Dionio Jr., decapitated by fleeing BIFF fighters.
Erwin Viloan, another fatality, was found in another area of Midsayap, shot in the head.
“Nagsuot ng battle dress attire ng pantaas [si Dionio]. Napagkamalan siya,” said Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division, the unit which confronted the BIFF in Midsayap. “Pero ganun naman dito, eh. 'Yung mga farmers natin, (sinusuot nila ito) dahil magandang gamitin habang nagti-till sila ng farmland nila.”
“Pinatay siya ng BIFF, pinugutan ng ulo kahapon. Galit ako sa mga rebelde, pinatay nila ang anak ko,” said Virginia Dionio, Ricarte's mother, half in tears and half in anger.
Meanwhile, the BIFF were reported to have taken hostages, nine of whom were released early Tuesday morning. The hostages, teachers and barangay officials had been held at the Liwasan marsh.
“Mabait sila sa 'min. Pinasakay lang kami ng pump boat, pinakain, pinatulog,” said released hostage and teacher Josephine Galvez of the BIFF gunmen.
However, a fellow teacher, who was captured with her daughter and who escaped Monday night, understandably found the experience harrowing.
Earlier, 15 other civilians used as human shields were released.
Meanwhile, GMA News was able to contact BIFF spokesperson Abu Misri Mama, who said the teachers were released for their safety.
He added that all BIFF fighters have retreated from Midsayap, and, also, his group claimed responsibility for an attack in Tulunan, Cotabato.
Mama said that these attacks are part of the BIFF's efforts to establish a Bangsamoro Islamic State.
However, Hermoso countered that the group's attack was an effort to derail peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Evacuees seek refuge in Mlang
Meanwhile, at least 18 Maguindanoan families left their respectives homes
in Barangay Malingao in Midsayap and sought refuge in the town of Mlang
following the Monday clashes.
Hernan Dapudong, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(MDRRMC) assistant, disclosed that at least 130 individuals, mostly children,
are temporarily staying outside the mosque in Purok 7, Barangay Lepaga, Mlang,
Cotabato.
Dapudong said the evacuees are relatives of village chair Abdullah
Panangulon.
But because the mosque cannot accommodate the evacuees, some of them built
improvised makeshift shelters that serve as their temporary homes especially
during nighttime.
Dapudong said because of the cold weather during the nighttime, some
children are now suffering from colds, cough and fever.
The local government unit of Mlang has immediately provided food items and
tarpaulins for shelter for the evacuees.
Mayor Joselito Pinol also ordered the town's health officials to conduct a
medical outreach to attend to the health conditions of the children and the
elderly.
"Even if they are not our constituents, it is our moral obligations to give
them medical attention since they chose to stay in our town for their safety,"
Mayor Pinol said.
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