Armed men enter North Cotabato village

June 21, 2017

Unidentified armed men, whom police say were members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, entered a village in Pigkawayan, North Cotabato on Wednesday and harassed residents of Barangay Malagakit. Superintendent Romeo Galgo, regional police spokesman, said fighting is going on between the Army and the armed men. Galgo said police were able to evacuate 513 persons. He said it is not known if the armed men held hostage several people in the elementary school. “We don’t have any report ( of hostages),” said Galgo. He could not say if there were casualties. DMS