Gazmin: North Cotabato civilians evacuated as MIFL-BIFF fighting rages

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

BAGUIO CITY — Civilians who may be caught in the fighting between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front in North Cotabato have already been evacuated, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin assured.

“Ang ginagawa ng gobyerno bago pa magkagulo, nung narinig namin na may plano ang MILF na palibutan ang BIFF, alam na natin na magkakaroon ng displacement. Na contact ko kaagad si Sec. Dinky Soliman, kaya handang handa tayong magbigay ng pagkain, yung evacuation centers naihanda na. Ngayon tutulungan natin ang MILF para matigil na yung panggugulo ng BIFF,” Gazmin told reporters on Saturday evening.

On Saturday, the military launched offensives using artillery fire to BIFF gunmen in the villages of Pagalungan in Maguindanao and Pikit in North Cotabato.

The operation was said to be coordinated with the MILF, which has a peace deal with the government.

At least 20,000 have been evacuated from the villages of Pikit, an Inquirer report earlier said.

Fighting broke out between the MILF and BIFF due to rido or clan war nearly two weeks ago. This came after MILF and BIFF forces battled with elite police officers who raided the hideout of two terrorists last month in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The botched raid killed 44 police officers, 18 MILF and three civilians.

The BIFF, the breakaway group of the MILF opposed to the peace deal with the government, has also been blamed for the bombings in Central Mindanao.

Gazmin said that they would continue to pursue the BIFF forces if they won’t surrender.

“Kung mapapasuko natin sila, di pasukuin natin sila. Ngayon kung ayaw naman nila ng sukuan, e di daanan naman natin sa santong paspasan di ba?” he said.

The military is giving the MILF an “operational support” to the ongoing fighting, he added.