Philippines: With battle over, Muslim families return

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines

An army official has confirmed the return of over 9,000 Muslim families to villages in five towns where government troops fought an almost month-long battle against Daesh-aligned rebels in the strife-torn southern Philippines province of Maguindanao.

Army spokesperson Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay said Thursday that around 9,104 families had returned to villages where firefights raged for weeks after Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) tried to stop a private construction company Feb. 5 from working on a P58 million flood control project.

BIFF is a breakaway group of the Philippines’ one-time largest rebel group -- the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) -- which is currently involved in a longstanding peace process with the Philippines government.

The month-long fighting left two soldiers and several rebels dead.

In a text message, Petinglay told Anadolu Agency that BIFF gunmen opened fire on government forces gathered Wednesday at the village of Tee -- situated in Maguindanao, a bastion of the MILF -- to raise the Philippine flag.

Petinglay added that security forces and local officials had escorted the displaced families to their villages after the flag was hoisted at a former stronghold of BIFF captured by troops during the month-long hostilities.

The state-run Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported Wednesday that as the government caravan arrived in the village, rebels from across a river opened fire, sparking a 30-minute firefight.

Only after the Army shelled them with artillery did the BIFF forces -- which have claimed allegiance to Daesh -- withdraw.

Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan told local residents that the government will protect them and the flood project aimed at saving farming villages from floods during the rainy season.

"Once it is completed, our soldiers will leave the area,” Pangilinan said.

He said government soldiers had offered their lives and limbs in protecting the community from bandits, even suffering death and injuries.

"We are working with the provincial government to make this community free from lawlessness, we will help rebuild schools because your children will benefit from it and they need it,” he said.

The BIFF broke away from MILF in 2011 due to differences with the MILF leadership in handling the peace negotiations with the government, which are aimed at bringing an end to a separatist conflict that has killed around 150,000 people.

The fighting took place during a stall in the peace process, leading many to question if a law aimed at sealing the 2014 deal will ever be signed.

Both the government and the MILF have warned that while the agreement is shelved during the duration of the country's presidential elections, "terrorist" groups may try and take advantage of local frustrations.