At least 100 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) stormed an elementary school in North Cotabato Wednesday morning and took some students hostage, according to the military and local police.
Reports said the BIFF rebels, a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, are still holed up in Malagakit Elementary School in Pigcawayan town as of this writing.
Some civilians are also trapped in the school, ABS-CBN News quoted Chief Inspector Realan Mamon, director of Pigcawayan police, as saying.
The civilians took refuge in the school to escape a firefight between troops supported by local militias and BIFF rebels in three other areas of Pigcawayan, the military said.
Local police reported seeing residents fleeing to the town’s Poblacion area to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
There are no reports of casualties yet, according to Pigcawayan Mayor Eliseo Garsesa.
Mamon said the presence of BIFF rebels in the town may be a ploy to divert the attention of the military from Marawi City to ease pressure on Maute fighters holed up in the city.
credit: Ru Bi Nie Facebook page
