250 families flee as rouge Moro rebels attack Cotabato village

MANILA -- About 250 families were evacuated from their homes in a North Cotabato village as an encounter transpired between authorities and armed men believed to be members of a breakaway Moro rebel group.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Monday's encounter between authorities of Barangay Lower Pataan and 20 heavily armed men forced the affected families to seek shelter in a public elementary school in Kabacan town.

The armed men are suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who are lead by a certain Commander Pax.

The NDRRMC also reported that a certain Romeo Pizarro, a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu), was wounded and given immediate medical treatment.

The alleged Moro rebels withdrew after joint elements from the Kabacan Municipal Police Station, Cafgu unit, and the Army's 7th Infantry Battalion were deployed to the village.

The NDRRMC did not disclose additional information but a television report said the encounter stemmed from a land dispute issue.

The military has claimed that the recent alleged BIFF attacks in some Mindanao areas have nothing to do with the framework peace agreement signed this month by the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The BIFF broke away from the MILF and has expressed opposition to the latter group's peace negotiations with the government. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)