Bandits driven away from NCotabato towns

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines – Army combatants cleared from occupation by bandits Thursday a farming enclave from where the latter launched Tuesday’s attempt to display force along a stretch of a highway at the border of North Cotabato’s Mlang and Matalam towns.

Captain Tony Bulao, spokesman of the Army’s 602rd Brigade, said members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters that holed out at Sitio Pedtad in Barangay Gaunan in the southwest of Mlang have fled deep into the Liguasan Delta, bringing with them companions wounded in gunfights with soldiers last Tuesday.

Bulao said they will turn over the control of Sitio Pedtad to the local government unit of Mlang as soon as possible to enable the LGU to return dozens of families dislocated by hostilities.

Pursuing soldiers have pounded with dozens of 81 MM mortar projectiles and 22 rounds of 105 Howitzer cannon shells the surroundings of Sitio Pedtad to drive the bandits away.

Combatants from various units of the 602nd Brigade and the 6th Infantry Division prevented the bandits from getting close to the highway connecting Mlang and Matalam last Tuesday, blocking the route after having been tipped off by villagers.