MILF-MNLF tension forces cancellation of classes

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato—Education officials have suspended classes indefinitely at both elementary and high school levels in the village of Tonganon in Carmen, North Cotabato, due to tension between members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front  and Moro National Liberation Front there.

Omar Obas, superintendent of schools in North Cotabato, said the suspension of classes, which took effect on Monday, was decided on to prevent any harm coming to the students.

Classes would remain suspended until peace and order are assured, Obas said, adding that the order affected about 500 students.

Obas said though that even if classes were to remain suspended, graduation ceremonies would be held as scheduled in March.

In the meantime, the affected students will be made to catch up with their lessons through make up classes and the modular system.

Tension between the two Moro groups remained high in the wake of a clashe in which three people, including a member of the local community watch, were killed.

Capt. Tony Bulao, spokesman of Army’s 602nd Brigade, said last week’s clash occurred after MILF guerrillas allegedly prevented farmers from bringing their harvest to the town center because they had not been giving the rebels financial contributions.

Bulao said soldiers had been sent to the village to prevent a flareup of hostilities between the rival Moro groups.

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