High school library in Maguindanao torched

MANILA, Philippines - The unchecked rampage of unidentified armed men in Maguindanao has again resulted to the burning of an entire high school library in a village of South Upi town.

The burning of the school library of Pandan National High School in Barangay Pandan, has not only deprived students of learning materials like books but also other invaluable historical records being kept at the said place.

“Almost all of the books and other important documents were gutted by fire,” said Col. Rudy Asto, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division.

Over the past weeks, local police and military ground troops have been monitoring increased activities of unidentified armed men in Maguindanao and also in North Cotabato and Lanao del Sur.

Asto said the incident that took place about 10 p.m., Thursday has prompted the military leadership in Central Mindanao to deploy troops in Barangay Pandan.

This is, he said, in support of the ongoing investigation being conducted by the local police to identify the perpetrators of the crime.

Heavily armed men also torched a two-room elementary school building in Barangay Buayan in Pikit in nearby North Cotabato province several days ago.