DAVAO CITY — Hundreds of individuals remain in various evacuation centers in the town of Pikit, North Cotabato after feuding Moro clans clashed on June 8.
But, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) state chairman Rolando Olamit who visited Pikit on Monday, in an interview with Newsline revealed, “We suspect it was the handiwork of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) lost command, claiming an MNLF controlled area alone in East Pikit, where 99 families were displaced and their houses burned”.
Local authorities said it was a rido “Clan war” among Muslim families.
A source said, over 200 armed men swooped the villages and burned houses, prompting `helpless civilians and children to run for safety in evacuation centers.
The skirmishes broke off the early morning of June 8, when armed groups attacked the villages of Barangay Bulod, Bulol, Rajahmuda, Talitay Dalingaoen, Nuangan, Balatican and Balungis of Pikit.
The displaced families are temporarily staying in Gligli evacuation center with over 780 families, while more than 800 families are in Inug-ug, and some are in public schools nearby according to Hiera La Iluvia, a volunteer who is asking support for the affected children told Newsline.
On Monday, Olamit told Newsline, “99 families are still at the evacuation center because their houses were burned by suspected members of MILF Lost Command, kawawa ang mga civilian nadamay (I pity the civilians caught in the crossfire)”.
The MNLF leadership is wondering “Bakit yong MILF lost command may mga high-powered pa na baril na na-decomission na man sila, hindi ko rin alam kung bakit nagkaganun, kaya nga nag-usap kami ni Pikit Mayor Sumulong Sultan”.
On June 17, Sultan in a Facebook post was shown presiding a joint meeting with concerned barangay officials together preparing to send off the IDPs from Barangays Talitay, Bulod, Rajamudah and Bulol. The post added that “Since Commander Boto Sanday voluntarily submitted himself to the leadership of 602nd Brigade and to our municipal mayor of Pikit yesterday (June 16).
The meeting was attended by CCCH and AHJAG ( GPH and MILF ) and the 602nd Bde Comdr representing Maj Villonar, 90IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Maquilan. Honorable vice mayor Muhyryn Sultan-Casi, Hon. BM Dulia Sultan and the Pikit MSWD Mam Balios and the LGU Pikit MLGOO.
Hiera La Iluvia in an interview with Newsline said her group is helping displaced children as they distribute food and other stuff for the women and children IDPs.
Iluvia is a public school teacher in Kabacan town but on Saturdays and Sundays she volunteers to help the women and children at the evacuation centers. “I am doing this voluntarily because I want my children to see that an individual can help people in need. I ask friends to support the children’s needs like food and other immediate needs. They are the innocent victims of this problem”.
“May Covid na, nag bakwit pa, naawa ako sa mga bata at kababaihan (There is Covid already, now there’s evacuation . . . I pity the children and women),” she added.
Villagers were forced to leave their homes and some houses were even razed to the ground.
An interview with staff from Barangay Bulod said around 200 armed men attacked the neighboring villages which rendered some civilians homeless.
In a meeting on June 9, North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco together with local authorities said they will help the displaced families to return home.
Present during the dialogue initiated by Catamco were Brig. Gen. Roberto Capulong, the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade commander, and the local officials where the IDPs also expressed dismay over their condition at the evacuation camps since last month.
Catamco assured the IDPs that the provincial government will provide means and transportation so the evacuees can return home with the military providing security along the way.
The provincial government on June 9 revealed 139 houses were burned since the sporadic attack started on May 10.
Involved in the conflict due to land disputes were Jonaydie Abas, a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and Sambutuan Sanday, also a former commander but was removed from MILF for disobedience.
Also present during the dialogue were Police Regional Office-12 director Henry Villar, Department of the Interior and Local Government-12 chief Ali Abdullah, MILF-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities representative Omar Bayao, Moro National Liberation Front state chairman Rolando Olamit, and Pikit Mayor Sumulong Sultan.
On June 17, Sultan in a Facebook post stated “commander Boto Sanday voluntarily surrendered to the leadership of the 602nd Brigade.”
On Tuesday, June 23, Sultan posted “LGU Pikit continue to work with concerned agencies for the continuous provision of assistance to the victims especially those houses burned down during the fight of a warring clan”.
As of yesterday, the IDPS still await for the final instructions regarding their return in their respective villages.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline
