Cops help repair Catholic church damaged during BIFF attack

Police personnel help do repair works on the Catholic church that was damaged during the Dec. 3 attack by BIFF members in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao. (Photo from PNP-BARMM)

DATU PIANG, Maguindanao –– The police chief of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has deployed personnel here on Wednesday, Dec. 9, to repair portions of the Catholic church that were damaged during a recent attack by Islamic State-linked militants.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Rodriguez, BARMM police director, sent a team from the Special Action Force to help personnel of the Datu Piang municipal police office to do the repair works.

Police personnel help do repair works on the Catholic church that was damaged during the Dec. 3 attack by BIFF members in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao. (Photo from PNP-BARMM)

During the Dec. 3 attack by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the church walls, including the image of Santa Teresita, its patron, sustained bullet holes.

“Help the people of Datu Piang, help (repair damaged) places of worship, and make everyone feel they are safe,” Rodriguez told the police.

Earlier, Rodriguez has installed a new town police chief, Major Alexander Butuan.

Fr. Prudencio Alviar, Datu Piang parish priest, said the repair and cleanup of the church by police personnel added meaning to his 63rd birthday celebration on Wednesday.

Edited by LZB