Teduray folk can’t go home yet as fighting rages

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao — Teduray “lumad” (indigenous peoples) who fled their villages last month might have to spend more time in evacuation centers in the province as fighting between government troops and Moro rebels continued on Monday, military and local officials said.

Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on Monday set off a roadside bomb at Barangay Labu-Labu 2 in Datu Hoffer town, wounding two militiamen. The attack happened as the military continued to pursue BIFF members on Mount Firis, which traverses the towns of Datu Hoffer, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Datu Unsay.

Capt. Arvin John Encinas, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, could not say how many BIFF gunmen died from the airstrikes and artillery fire launched by the military.

But Encinas said the Islamic State-inspired BIFF might have suffered more casualties than the six bodies recovered during clearing operations on Sunday, following airstrikes and artillery fire on Saturday.

“The remains … [were] turned over to local officials for immediate burial rites,” said Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, 6th ID commander.

Dela Vega said the six slain gunmen were among 80 BIFF members who attacked members of the 64th Reconnaissance Company at Barangay Maitumaig in Datu Unsay on Saturday night. A soldier was killed in that attack.

The village is on Mt. Firis, where off and on clashes have sent more than 2,000 Teduray lumad fleeing to safer areas since last month.

Christmas Day offensive

Dela Vega said the attacks prompted the Armed Forces of the Philippines to launch offensives against the armed men, led by Esmail Abubakar alias Commander Bungos. The airstrikes, he said, lasted until 3 a.m. on Sunday.

The renewed offensive against the BIFF began on Christmas Day after BIFF members burned dozens of Teduray homes in Barangay Maitumaig and nearby areas.

Lynette Estandarte, head of the Maguindanao Peoples Team, said Teduray lumad were staying at evacuation centers in Datu Unsay and Datu Hoffer.

Estandarte said Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu sent a water tanker to ensure drinking water supply for evacuees.

Dr. Tahir Sulaik, the Maguindanao health chief, said medical teams had also been sent to the evacuation centers.

The Teduray communities on Mt. Firis were now ghost communities.

One Teduray was killed when he stepped on an improvised explosive device at the height of the evacuations, said Fatima Kanakan, executive director of the Office of Southern Cultural Communities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

In the early days of the fighting, about 1,400 Teduray lumad were trapped in their communities, Kanakan said, but they made it to evacuation centers on Thursday last week.

Military reports said the BIFF appeared to be regrouping on the Datu Saudi Ampatuan side of Mt. Firis.

More Army checkpoints had been set up along the Cotabato-Isulan, Sultan Kudarat highway to stop attempts by the BIFF to carry out diversionary offensives against civilians, Dela Vega said.

He said the military had discouraged commuters from passing through the Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat highway at night to ensure their safety. —Edwin Fernandez