MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, (PNA) — By sheer of luck and presence of mind, four teachers and a child, escaped from their Moro rebel captors in a remote village here, authorities and survivors said Monday night.
Government forces are still hunting down Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who seized all-female public school teachers of Malingao Elementary School in Barangay Malingao, Midsayap, North Cotabato.
Nine of the 12 teachers remained in the hands of the bandits who fled toward the riverside of Barangay Malingao which borders Midsayap in North Cotabato and Datu Piang in Maguindanao.
Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesperson of the military’s 6th Infantry Division, said government forces are still pursuing the bandits who attacked military detachments and occupied a public school when government forces arrived Monday morning.
Midsayap Mayor Romeo Araña said the four teachers and a child are now undergoing medical examination at a private hospital here.
Araña quoted one of the four teachers who escaped that they were being transported from Malingao Elementary School to the fish landing area at the riverside shortly before dusk.
“They (rebels) were to escape undercover of darkness and used the teachers as human shields when these teachers escaped with the help of civilians,” he said, adding that the rebels used “trisikad” to bring the teachers along.
One teacher sought to answer the call of nature. After urinating, a civilian grabbed her and told her to cover in the bushes.
The tires of one pedicab was busted, sending the three other teachers to disembark and fled.
Civilians accompanied the teachers to a military personnel nearby.
As of 7 p.m. nine teachers remained in the hands of BIFF as they fled. Sporadic gun burst could still be heard near Barangay Malingao.
Colonel Dickson Hermoso, 6th Infantry Division (6ID) spokesman, said fighting subsided before dusk Monday but retreating rebels are still holding several hostages
Three soldiers and seven BIFF rebels were killed. Two other infantrymen and a dozen BIFF rebels were wounded, according to Hermoso.
One teacher told Mayor Araña that they decided to be the last to leave the school after the parents arrived and took their children home.
But before they could leave the school grounds, the armed men started to come in at about 8 a.m.
He said the gunmen told the teachers not to leave their school for they may be hit by stray bullets. Gunmen also confiscated their valuables, including mobile phones and money.
Capt. Antonio Bulao, 603rd Infantry Brigade spokesperson, said the rebels had planned to take over the highway in Aleosan, North Cotabato that connects Cotabato City and Davao City.
But the plan was aborted by the rebels when militiamen and elements of the 40th Infantry Battalion fired at approaching armed men. It triggered a running gun battle until the rebels, broke into smaller groups, and entered Barangay Malingao.
Araña said negotiation is on going between the rebels and Muslim local officials of Midsayap.
The identities of the teachers were withheld by authorities.
The BIFF and military both admitted the incident was not in anyway related to the Zamboanga incident.