From GMA News Online (Nov 11): 200 families in Cotabato flee homes amid military air strikes
At least 200 families from two villages in Carmen, Cotabato have sought refuge in nearby Aleosan town, after the Army launched an intense air-to-ground military offensives against alleged ISIS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) since Wednesday, a military official said Saturday.
Captain Napoleon Alcarioto, head of the Civil Military Operations (CMO) of the Army’s 602nd Brigade, said the evacuees have sought temporary shelter in Barangay Lawili in Aleosan.
He said that internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been given initial assistance, such as food relief packs by the local government units of Carmen and Aleosan.
The Army official said they used MG520 attack helicopters as they launched air strikes, since Wednesday. The air assault is now on its fourth day this Saturday, Alcarioto said.
“On the ground, our men recovered a number of personal belongings of these BIFF members, which led us to believe that some of them could have been hit during the military air strikes.”
Military offensives took place after some 30 fully-armed ISIS-inspired BIFF were sighted in Barangay Tonganon and nearby village in Bentangan, also in Carmen, last Tuesday.
The presence of the armed group, allegedly led by a certain Esmael Abdulmalik or Commander Abu Torayfe, caused panic among residents and immediately sought refuge in nearby areas to prevent from being caught in crossfires.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/632763/200-families-in-cotabato-flee-homes-amid-military-air-strikes/story/
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