MANILA, (PNA)– Units from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) engaged in fresh fighting in Tulunan town, Cotabato Tuesday early morning.
This took place after BIFF released 13 hostages earlier.
AFP deputy public affairs chief Major Angelo Guzman maintained that the safety of civilians will be their priority.
Earlier Tuesday, Philippine Army 7th Civil Relations Group commander Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said the BIFF released at least 13 civilians the group abducted in Midsayap in Cotabato on Monday.
For her part, Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza said the Midsayap local government and crisis management committee had no recommendation to suspend classes in the town for Tuesday.
“The local government unit of Midsayap and the Crisis Management Committee ha(ve) no recommendation to suspend classes except for barangays directly affected by the recent firefights,” she said in a 5:15 a.m. post on her Facebook page.
Cabunoc said the BIFF abducted 16 people during the Midsayap clash, leaving three soldiers dead.
He said the 16 included 13 schoolteachers during the attacks occurred in Polangoguen and Tuwal villages.
“The captors agreed to release all of the trapped residents including four out of 13 school teachers who were held at gunpoint together with four village officials,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the Army headquarters in Camp Siongco has lowered its flag in half-mast to honor the soldiers who died to save the hostages.
Meanwhile, Col. Dickson Hermoso, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said that their troopers have recovered bodies of two civilians in Dimapulot Malinao and Sitio Babonao, Barangay Agriculture, both in Midyasayap town.
He identified the dead victims as Ricardo Dionio and Erwin Badao Viloan.
Both men were shot to death with Dionio having his head decapitated.