KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – At least 200 persons fled their homes in Arakan, North Cotabato when Army soldiers clashed with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
The clash ensued when soldiers from the 57th Infantry Battalion pursued rebels responsible for Wednesday’s landmine blast in Barangay (village) Kabalantian that killed three government troops and wounded another soldier, Charlie Segucal, the village chair, said.
Segucal said 28 families fled Purok Tikuyac on Wednesday evening and sought shelter in the village center.
About 15 other families from Sitio Aguilar also abandoned their homes when soldiers and NPA rebels clashed following the landmine incident.
Segucal said the evacuees had feared full-blown military operation and decided to leave home to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Segucal said the incident, which was somewhat isolated, had dismayed officials because it put in jeopardy the development projects that an international organization has been implementing.
Kabalantian is a beneficiary of Action Against Hunger of ACF-International’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) project, he added.
The military has vowed to pursue the rebels, who were suspected to have fled towards the direction of Kitaotao town in nearby Bukidnon. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao
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