M’LANG, North Cotabato, (PNA)–About 50 families or 250 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from a remote village here forced to evacate by a recent encounter between government troopers and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have returned home on Saturday.
Nonoy Daizon, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer said, the IDPs from Sitio Pedtad, Barangay Gaunan, went back to their homes around 2:00 p.m. after authorities conducted clearing operations and assured the safety of the civilians.
Diazon added that evacuees from other affected villages of Tibao and New Antique here had also been instructed to return to their houses.
M’lang Mayor Joselito Piñol has lauded the Army’s 602nd Brigade stationed in the area for countering armed groups penetrating the town’s periphery.
The evacuation of M’lang took place last week after BIFF forces entered the villages of Tibao, New Antique and Gaunan.