Cotabato evacuees start returning home — military

Kidapawan City – At least 96 families displaced by more than a month of armed fighting between two warring Moro groups in Kabacan, North Cotabato returned to their homes safely on Sunday, military reports said. Lt. Col. Domingo Gubuay, commander of the 7th Infantry Battalion, said they escorted the evacuees in going back home after staying for more than a month at Salapungan Elementary School in Barangay Salapungan, also in Kabacan town. The Army said the area is already safe for the evacuees after they were able to drive the armed men away. At least three armored tanks were deployed in the area to secure the villagers. Gubuay said they are expecting some 200 families who sought temporary shelter at Pisan Elementary School in Barangay Pisan to return to their homes on Monday. The return came a week after Dima Ambel of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Sebangan Kutawato State Revolutionary Committee re-positioned his troops away from Barangay Nangaan. The camp of Ambel said the order was a result of the joint meeting of the MNLF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held last Feb 6 in Kabacan town. The fighting between the group of Ambel and Kineg Minalang of the MILF erupted in Jan. 9, which resulted to a number of casualties and the displacement of more than 1,500 families from Barangays Simone and Nangaan. - Malu Cadelina Manar/KBK, GMA News