Families vacate village in Sarangani

A TOTAL of 127 individuals evacuated in three days after armed men attacked sitio Nalipay, Barangay Ticulab, Maitum, Sarangani province on Saturday.

Captain William Alfred T. Rodriguez, spokesperson for the 1002nd Brigade, said in a phone interview that residents of the place were immediately evacuated to a center at Sitio Bem after the attack led by one Salindatu Binago early in the morning.

Rodriguez said the local government is providing the basic needs of the affected families, while their troops with policemen are still tracking down the armed men.

"The armed men who attacked Sitio Nalipay on Saturday have nothing to do or are not associated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), ibang grupo din ito, yun pang inaalam namin," Rodriguez said.

On the other hand, Maitum Mayor Elsie Perrett earlier called on the military and police in the area to resolve the conflict.

He said the recent attack is the second incident in their area since August 16 this year, when village councilman Freddie Macatin, his wife and brother-in-law were killed.

Rodriguez said the authorities were already deployed to ensure the barangay will be free from the clutches of the heavily armed men.