VIDEO | BIFF accused of beheading hostage as fighting spreads after teachers released

From InterAksyon (Sep 24): VIDEO | BIFF accused of beheading hostage as fighting spreads after teachers released



A soldier rests during fighting with BIFF gunmen in Midsayap, North Cotabato (photo by Dennis Arcon, News5)

The military accused the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters of beheading a civilian hostage as fighting erupted for the second day in Midsayap town, North Cotabato on Tuesday.

The fighting spread on Tuesday, with hostilities reported on the outskirts of Tulunan town as well as in the Maguindanao towns of Parang, where a civilian was wounded when an improvised explosive device was set off, and Datu Saudi Ampatuan, where BIFF fighters reportedly attacked a military detachment.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said soldiers found the decapitated body of Ricardo Dionio in Sitio Dimapulot in Barangay Malinao.

“The head of Dionio bore (a) gunshot wound,” Hermoso said.

Troops also found the bullet-riddled body of another civilian, Erwin Badao Viloan, Sitio Babonao, Barangay Agriculture.

Hermoso’s disclosure came soon after the BIFF gunmen who attacked three Midsayap villages Monday released nine teachers and four barangay officials they had seized and allegedly used as “human shields” to ward off pursuing troops.

[Video: Morning Balita]

The teachers and village officials were released in Barangay Sambulawan, Midasayap, North Cotabato.

Capt. Tony Bulao, spokesman of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, said the hostages were freed around 5:30 a.m. at the fish landing area in Sitio Payugan Tong after being held for almost 13 hours by the rebels.

“They (victims together with negotiators) are now heading towards Barangay Poblacion for medical check-up at the Amado Hospital,” Bulao said.

The nine teachers, from the elementary school in Barangay Malingao, were allegedly seized by BIFF fighters to cover their retreat from pursuing government troops.

There were reportedly more hostages originally but North Cotabato provincial board member Kelly Antao managed to negotiate the release of students and other civilians the rebels had also seized.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the military lost three dead and two wounded in the fighting.

The rebels suffered two dead and four wounded.

Three civilians were reported wounded when a house was hit by an 81-mm mortar shell.

Hundreds of residents from the three villages affected by the fighting remain in four evacuation centers, Midsayap Mayor Romeo Arana said.

The BIFF is a faction that broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/71374/video--biff-accused-of-beheading-hostage-as-fighting-spreads-after-teachers-released