COTABATO CITY – Thousands of villagers have their homes following clashes between security forces and ISIS-inspired militants in southern Philippines.
Soldiers continued Monday battling members of the so-called Maute Group behind deadly attacks in Lanao del Sur’s Marawi City last year. The military was pursuing Abu Dar, one of the group’s commanders, in the province.
The fighting, which began over the weekend in Guiarong village in Tubaran town, displaced at least 700 families, mostly Muslim villagers. It was not immediately known whether both sides had suffered casualties since the clashes were continuing.
Military aircrafts pounded a large area where the militants have sought refuge while ground troops advanced to capture those targeted by the air strikes.
Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman has ordered social workers to look into the safety of the evacuees, especially women, children and the old; and to distribute food aid to refugee shelters in Lanao del Sur, one of 5 provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Last week, security forces also launched a massive campaign against militant group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in nearby Maguindanao and North Cotabato and destroyed several weapons and bomb factories, and killing at least 2 dozen fighters in Liguasan Marsh. (Mindanao Examiner)
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