Kalinaw News: 12,000 displaced residents due to BIFF atrocities set to receive aid in Maguindanao

Posted to Kalinaw News (Mar 20, 2021): 12,000 displaced residents due to BIFF atrocities set to receive aid in Maguindanao

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – A total of 12,305 individuals equivalent to 3,469 families have evacuated to different evacuation centers and are set to receive relief aids based on the joint team of Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) of the municipalities of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, and Datu Unsay all of Maguindanao Province as clearing operations of JTF Central continues in the area to drive-out violent extremists belonging to Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) – Karialan Faction and Dawlah Islamiya (DI) – Turaife Group at Datu Saudi Ampatuan (DSA) town of Maguindanao.

On the other hand, the Office of the Civil Defense – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-BARMM) recorded some 4,264 families as of 10:00 pm on March 19, 2021. These consist of 2,154 families affected in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, 989 families were affected in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, 800 families in Mamasapano, 231 in Shariff Aguak, and 20 families in Datu Unsay and are now in different evacuation centers. According to Director Raylindo Aniñon, OCD-BARMM, the said data was the official and reliable information recorded from the grounds wherein displaced families are currently seeking refuge in the various temporary evacuation centers due to fear of being caught in the crossfire.

It can be recalled that last March 18, 2021, armed clashes erupted as local terrorists attempted to attack residents and the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) outpost at Barangay Kitango, DSA, Maguindanao.

Meanwhile, according to Col. Pedro Balisi, Brigade Commander of 1st Mechanized Brigade, since the start of the clearing operations, the total number of killed BIFF combatants rose to five (5) and two (2) were wounded. The troops seized two 5.56mm converted rifles, one (1) homemade 12-gauge shotgun and the discovery of four (4) improvised explosive devices (IEDs), three (3) unexploded ordnance (UXOs), three (3) ICOM/Motorola radios, subversive documents, and other personal belongings from the BIFF.

Major General Juvymax Uy, the Commander of JTF Central and 6ID has placed on heightened alert status all military units inside and around the adjoining towns of Datu Saudi Ampatuan to thwart any attack plotted by extremists groups. “We would like to assure the residents of the Province of Maguindanao that your soldiers from JTFC and 6ID are committed to serve the people and protect the communities of Maguindanao. We will not let our guards down and assures our fellow Filipinos that together we will address the threat presented by these violent extremist groups,” Maj. Gen. Uy added.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/12000-displaced-residents-due-to-biff-atrocities-set-to-receive-aid-in-maguindanao/