Close to 10,000 persons displaced by BIFF attacks

MANILA, Philippines - Close to 10,000 persons have been displaced by recent clashes between the military and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in two towns in Cotabato.

A total of 9,770 persons or 2,275 families have evacuated to safer areas after a series of gunshots and explosions, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday.

Of this, 6,420 persons or 1,605 families were displaced in Pikit while 3,350 individuals or 670 families evacuated from Aleosan.

NDRRMC said the Army has driven away the Moro rebels who staged attacks in the area.

The Office of Civil Defense in SOCCSKSARGEN is continuously monitoring the situation and is working closely with the local social welfare office to assist the evacuees.

The municipal disaster management personnel have distributed food packs and provided medical assistance to the affected residents.

As many as five BIFF members were reportedly killed in a firefight with the Army last Saturday in the boundary of Aleosan and Pikit towns

The clash, which transpired after authorities had deactivated a BIFF-planted roadside bomb along a road in Maguindanao, also left two soldiers wounded.

The BIFF broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) due to differences over the peace talks with the government. The group has since vowed to destroy the peace talks.