27k residents displaced, without water after Abu Sayyaf attack in Basilan

From GMA News (Jun 8): 27k residents displaced, without water after Abu Sayyaf attack in Basilan

More than 27,000 residents of Maluso town in Basilan have been affected after an attack by suspected Abu Sayyaf members last weekend, the provincial government said Monday.

The suspected bandits allegedly damaged the town's water supply and engaged the military in a clash.

A report from the governor's office said six schools have suspended classes for two days pending a security assessment by the police and military, GMA News correspondent Peewee Bacuño reported.

The crisis is expected to last two weeks as Maluso's local government unit may also declare a state of calamity as 80 percent of its population had been affected, it added.

Schools that suspended classes for two days included:

- Kamangaan Elementary School
- Taberlongan Elementary School
- Upper Mahayahay Elementary School
- Tubigan Elementary School
- Abong-Abong Elementary School
- Pali Elementary School

Also, the governor's office said that about 80 percent or 27,282 of the town's estimated population of 33,803, were affected by the water crisis:

- Townsite (4,820)
- Port Holland 1 (3,171)
- Port Holland 2 (2,436)
- Port Holland 3 (3,417)
- Port Holland 4 (3,355)
- Port Holland 5 (1,444)
- North Gaunan (1,089)
- South Gaunan (1,202)
- Lower Mahayahay (440)
- Upper Mahayahay (1,112)
- Taberlongan (2,046)
- Tamuk (1,649)
- Canas (1,101)

Internally displaced persons from the firefight included:

- Upper Mahayahay: 55 families (305 dependents)
- Townsite: 58 families (105 dependents)

At 5:40 a.m. last Saturday, alleged Abu Sayyaf members reportedly placed improvised explosive devices to damage the town's main water line.

Local authorities suspect extortion against the water district may have been the motive for the attack.

Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit personnel responded to the scene where the Abu Sayyaf beheaded one CAFGU and wounded another.

Two water lines were punctured, cutting off the water supply to 80 percent of the population of Maluso. The remaining 20 percent get their water from backyard wells and rivers.

Investigation showed the local water district had received threats before Saturday's attack.

Last June 3, lawless elements hacked the main water lines and used an M-79 grenade launcher to sabotage the main water lines Saturday.

The Bureau of Fire Protection in Isabela City lent its fire trucks Sunday to deliver 2,000 cubic meters of water.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said it is sending a team along with another from the Philippine Red Cross Basilan for an initial on-site assessment.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/500586/news/regions/27k-residents-displaced-without-water-after-abu-sayyaf-attack-in-basilan