Gunmen torch schools in Basilan; villagers flee

LAMITAN, BASILAN , Philippines  – Terror continued reign to hundreds of villagers as gunmen identified with a losing candidate set several schools, houses and a Madrasah center on fire and virtually turned a village into a “ghost town” in Akbar town, a remote municipality in this province, according to officials.

The military reported that at least five school buildings in five barangays have been torched since May 11 that forced many villagers to evacuate.

The latest attack was the burning of the Madrasah, an Islamic learning center, and two houses of villagers, according to re-electionist mayor Alih Sali. “I don’t know why they keep on terrorizing the villagers. Hundreds of residents have already evacuated because of the senseless attacks,” Sali said.

Sali said aside from the displaced villagers he was apprehensive that many children may not be able to return to school as school opening will be suspended in the absence of learning facilities.

Sadjara Wahab, a mother of two children whose ancestral house was among those pillaged by the gunmen in Barangay Caddayan, said everyone in her village left for fear they will be killed because they were perceived to be supporters of the winning mayor.