Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Another farmer slain in MILF harvest time raid
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels gunned down another farmer as they attacked another village in Aleosan town in North Cotabato, Tuesday morning, while farmers harvested their crops.
Colonel Julieto Ando, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division, said the still unidentified farmer was the second innocent civilian hit by the attacks allegedly launched by the MILF since Monday.
On Monday, the rebels attacked a farming village in Matalam and injured a farmer identified as Freddie Magbiray of sitio Maligaya, Barangay Malamote in Matalam.
As a result of the renewed skirmishes, some 200 families from Barangay Pagangan-Uno in Aleosan fled to nearby Pikit town where they sought temporary shelter.
Aleosan Mayor Loreto Cabaya, in a radio interview, said that the villagers were forced to leave their homes after hundreds of armed men with MILF insignias surrounded their barangay, early this morning.
Anterio Cabañog, 56, farmer, said that some of the armed men forced villagers to leave at gunpoint.
Also early this morning, the Army closed the Midsayap-Aleosan highway after they monitored movements of the MILF along the route. They later opened the highway to commuting public after they set up road security.
Ando said the attack was another serious violation of the ceasefire.
"They harassed the villagers and looted the houses of both Muslims and Christians there," Ando said.
Cabaya has appealed to the MILF to leave their place and spare them from the attacks "as Muslims and Christians are living here in harmony." (Malu Cadelina Manar)
