Armed men torch houses

KORONADAL CITY , Philippines   – Armed men swooped down on a Muslim-dominated village in Tantangan, South Cotabato before dawn yesterday and torched four houses and a mini-truck, authorities said.

Tantangan Mayor Arnold Garingo told The STAR that at around 12:30 a.m. a group of men brandishing high-powered firearms arrived in Sitio Tanting, Barangay Poblacion and indiscriminately fired their guns, sowing panic among the residents.

Quoting a police report, Garingo said the armed men then set four houses and a truck owned by village leader Danny Tanting on fire, and fled.

No one was hurt in the attack, Garingo said.