Officials reopen schools affected by BIFF attacks in NCotabato

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Officials on Monday reopened all schools in several villages in Midsayap, North Cotabato which members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) attacked last week in bloody incursions that dislocated 2,104 Moro and Christian families.

Provincial education officials led the hoisting of the Philippine flag in several schools in adjoining farming enclaves in Barangay Malingao, where BIFF bandits held for more than 10 hours last Sept. 23 more than 20 villagers and beheaded a farmer before they scampered away when the military counter-attacked.

Among the innocent folks the bandits held hostage and used as “shields” to prevent advancing soldiers and policemen from closing in were 13 public school teachers, now undergoing continuing psycho-social debriefing.

The office of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza and the local government unit of Midsayap had earlier facilitated the return, in separate groups, of almost half of the more than 2,000 families that were forced to evacuate to the town proper of Midsayap when the bandits attacked.

Mendoza and Midsayap Mayor Romeo Araña had also extended assistance to the family of 31-year-old Ricarte Dionio, whom the bandits beheaded using a machete before they left after laying siege on five villages in the adjoining Barangays Malingao, Rangaban ang Palomugen, all located near the boundary of North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Mendoza’s office had also extended support to the family of another villager, Erwin Vinluan, 21, who was executed by the fleeing bandits for refusing to help carry their wounded companions away from Barangay Maligao after soldiers started shelling their positions with 105 Howitzer cannons.