Moro villagers displaced by gunfights

GUNS are silent since Monday in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town but thousands of displaced villagers refuse to return without a written truce between two Moro groups whose clashes forced them to abandon their homes in haste.

The two heavily-armed groups groups are comprised of members of the 105th and 118th Base Commands of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, squabbling for control of villages in Barangays Madia and Dapiawan, both in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao del Sur province.

Combined units of the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office and the 6th Infantry Division drove the two groups out of Barangays Madia and Dapiawan in clearing operations Monday.

“We are calling on the evacuees to return to their homes now. We have peacekeeping teams to stay around” Brig. Gen. Oriel L. Pangcog said Wednesday over radio stations in central Mindanao of the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation.

No fewer than 4,000 villagers from Madia and Dapiawan are languishing in evacuation sites since last week.

“Unless we don’t see a peace agreement signed by leaders of both groups, there can never be peace in our barangays,” a 60-year-old farmer, who asked to be identified only as Beduh, told reporters Wednesday in the Maguindanaon dialect.

Local executives in Datu Saudi Ampatuan drew flak from various sectors and from other public officials in the province for failing to disengage the rival groups promptly. Gunmen from the two groups had set on fire more than a dozen houses in Dapiawan amid fierce gunfights in early April.

The two groups first figured in gunfights in late March.

Col. Ruel R. Sermese, director of the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office, earlier said they are trying to work out, along with the local government unit of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, the settlement of the conflict.

Public school teachers in the conflict-stricken barangays are also reluctant to reopen their classrooms for fear of a repeat of the gunfights.

John Felix Unson

MagSur distressed folks reluctant to return home

DESPITE assurances from police and military authorities that displaced families can now go home, the visibly traumatized civilians refused to journey back to their communities.

The conflict involving local leaders of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) over territorial and political disputes had affected about 3,400 families or about 17,000 in three adjoining towns of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Salido and Shariff Saydona Mustapha.

But most of the affected families are from the villages of Dapiawan, Elian, Gawang and Madia of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

Citing latest data, Ameer Jehad 'Tim' Ambolodto, Maguindanao Sur provincial disaster officer, said only more than 1,000 families out of the total number of displaced residents went home on Thursday.

“Let’s give them at least a day or two because what these families have went through is no easy. Imagine, hearing series of open fire near your house,” he said.

The gun-battle occurred during Ramadhan, Holy Week, and some took place earlier on March.

This caused disturbances for Muslims observing the holy month of Ramadan that culminated on April 22, the supposed Eid’l Ftr celebration.

Displaced families failed to attend congregational prayers, instead, the evacuees celebrated the end of fasting month inside evacuation sites.

The Army’s 6th Infantry Division and Maguindanao Sur PNP have conducted the clearing operations earlier this week to keep the affected barangays free from exchange of fire emanating from warring MILF groups.

Citing reports from grounds troops and village officials, Lt. Col. Dennis Almorato, 6th ID Civil Military Operations Battalion commander, said atleast eight MILF combatants from both sides were killed during the skirmishes.

Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, 601st Infantry Brigade commander, said the Army has deployed soldiers backed by armored vehicles to protect civilian communities.

As of April 27, economic activities in the local market of Dapiawan was already back to normal according to Datu Saudi Ampatuan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Head Rohanna Lintang Salik.

On April 4, the hostilities among MILF fighters left 16 houses and business establishments razed to the ground.

Security forces and local officials, along with the MILF’s Task Force Ittihad (Unity), have tried to convince leaders of 118th and 105th base commands to come to win-win solution.

However, an Army official said no peace deal was ever reached as of Thursday, April 26. Drema Quitayen Bravo

THE Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has called Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) warring groups to stop fighting and uphold civilian protection.

In a statement Wednesday, the BHRC said the fighting has already displaced more than 17,000 individuals in three adjoining towns of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Salibo and Saydona Mustapha.

Most of the affected families are in Barangays Dapiawan, Elian and Madia, all in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

“We strongly appeal to both parties to immediately cease their firefight and prevent further hostilities, as it has already resulted in the displacement civilians,” the BHRC said.

“As Muslims, both armed groups should adhere to the teachings of Islam, which promotes peace, compassion, and respect for human rights,” it added.

The BHRC also