They reportedly burned four houses and carted away farm animals of the residents before withdrawing towards the west.
The attack happened few hours before the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared the liberation of seven barangays in North Cotabato Tuesday noon.
The AFP's Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) identified the liberated barangays as Upper Labas, Lagumbingan and Baliki in Midsayap; Sitio Tubak, Dunguan in Aleosan; Cabpangi in Pigkawayan; Gayonga in North Kabuntalan; and Gumaga in Libungan.
North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan meantime said Tuesday that MILF forces have started leaving the barangays they forcibly occupied since July 1.
Sacdalan said the total pullout happened early morning of August 12, four days after the 24-hour ultimatum set by the government lapsed last August 8, Friday.
He expressed relief on the MILF pullout but said their work is still not over.
Aside from the thousands of evacuees still staying in schools and warehouses, the rehabilitation of the war-torn areas is also a priority of Sacdalan's administration. (BOT)
