KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – Gunmen attacked a farming district here the other day sending some 200 families fleeing for their lives, the city government said yesterday.
Psalmer Bernalte, chief information officer of the city government, said the evacuees are sheltered at the Barangay Amas Elementary School near the provincial capitol.
Bernalte said the evacuees were forced to leave their homes in Barangay Patadon when some 50 armed men wearing military combat uniforms, arrived Thursday and fired at the houses.
He said the armed group could be a supporter of one of two Moro clans squabbling for control of farming enclaves in Barangay Patadon.
Mayor Joseph Evangelista ordered the police to deploy a peacekeeping contingent in the village to prevent a repeat of the incident.
Evangelista said the evacuees are reluctant to return home fearing the gunmen would return.