1,000 families displaced by hostilities in Maguindanao
Local News • 23:02 PM Mon Jan 2, 2017
904
By:
Ferdinandh Cabrera
Damaged portion of a house in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao. (ARMM-HEART)
COTABATO CITY – Close to 1,000 families have moved to safer grounds after suspected
lawless elements harassed two Army detachments in the tri-boundary of Datu
Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Datu Shariff Saydona in Maguindanao on New Year’s
Eve, a relief agency today said.
Personnel of
the Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team of the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (HEART-ARMM) said the displaced families have sought shelter to
their relatives in nearby villages.
The affected
families were from Barnagay Madia in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Barangay Sambolawan
in Datu Salibo and Barangay Pagatin in Datu Shariff Saydona.
Tension has
slowed down but residents refused to return home for fear of another armed hostilities
involving government forces and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
Unconfirmed reports
said there were five fatalities on the side of the BIFF.
The
hostilities which began when BIFF harassed military detachments on New Year's eve until Sunday afternoon left several
houses on fire when hit by mortars. (Ferdinandh Cabrera) Image may contain one or more people and outdoor sand//scontent.fceb2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15781331_10209607853367955_1152655166935647876_n.jpg?oh=486ea3bf6cc007c05ea7b7c3290f3668andampoe=59207914 Image may contain one or more people shoes and outdoor sand//scontent.fceb2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15826098_10209607853847967_4853124295340279431_n.jpg?oh=855cd0720fa2197feeb1eaa5da5a1837andampoe=58E136A4