Thousands of Moro civilians flee due to fighting in North Cotabato

The encounter begun at 9:13 a.m. until around 2:00 p.m. though the AFP artillery shelling continued until later. The firefight started when BIFF members assaulted army outposts in Pikit and Aleosan, both in North Cotabato which according to reports killed two BIFF members and wounded two soldiers.

At least 885 families were displaced to an 8 clustered evacuation centers from the area and neighboring towns such as;  SitioTubeg and Habitat Pagangan, Aleosan; Sitio Quary Nalpaan ,Kadingilan,Talikupan  and Lagundi, Pikit North Cotabato.

Ben Modale, Pikit Municipal councilor said, “As of now sa SitioTubeg Pagangan palang ang nabigyan namin 3 kls each family kasi walasilang nadala, naiwanan nila lahat ng gamit nila unlike dun sa ibang barangay na 1 a.m.palang umalis na sila sa lugar nila pagkakita nila sa mga armadong kalalakihan.” (As of now, we have only distributed 3 kilos of rice each family to those at Sitio Tubeg Pagangan because they brought nothing when they decided to leave after seeing armed men)
“Ginagawa naming ang lahat ng aming makakaya habang hinihintay naming ang budget ng gobyerno para sa mga evacuees,” he added.  (We are doing everything while waiting for relief goods from the government)

Unconfirmed Luwaran source said, only after the Non-Violent Peace Force Agency intervened where the AFP was able to retrieve their casualties. Actual death toll or number of wounded on both sides was not determined.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/500-thousands-of-moro-civilians-flee-due-to-fighting-in-north-cotabato