Sunday, June 24, 2018

AFP law enforcement operation continues against pro-ISIS militants in Lanao Sur and BIFF in Maguindanao



Marawi City - An airstrike and subsequent armed confrontation occurred in Barangay Guiarong, Tubaran and Barangay Padas, Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched a law enforcement operation (LEO) on 17 June 2018 against “pro-ISIS” militants in the area. The airstrike was launched between 9:00am to 12:00 noon from Barangay Wago and Dinaigan, Tubaran. This encounter was reported in connection to an earlier armed confrontation between the two groups two days prior to the just recently concluded Barangay Elections in Barangay Malaganding in the same town.

The AFP LEO against an alleged number of people led by Abu Dar considered to be rebuilding a group based on the remnants of the ISIS-inspired group that caused the five (5) month Marawi conflict started in May 2017.

An estimated 1,024 families have been displaced from the municipalities of Tubaran and Pagayawan. Local Government units of the two municipalities have opened designated evacuation centers for Internally displaced persons (IDPs) to take temporary shelter. In the municipality of Pagayawan, a total of 255 displaced families have been recorded that are both home-based and in evacuation centers. These IDPs came from seven barangays of Padas, Rangiran, Ilian, Guiarong, Bangon, Linindingan, Madang and Diampaca. Two evacuation centers are located near the municipal hall and are housing about 57 displaced families.

In the municipality of Tubaran an estimated 769 displaced families have been recorded, with 312 families currently being sheltered in four designated evacuation centers, and the rest taking temporary shelter with friends, families and relatives. These IDPs came from ten barangays of the same town.
More IDPs were reported as being trapped in Barangays Diampaca and Padas of Pagayawan. A subject for validation is the burning of 27 houses in Barangay Malaganding, Tubaran.

A total of 2,325 families (11,605 individuals) have been displaced from the municipalities of Tubaran and Pagayawan as of 11:36 am of 20 June 2018. Of this total, 1,791 families (8,935 individuals) have evacuated to the homes of friends, families and relatives (home-based), while 534 families (2,670 individuals) have taken shelter in ten (10) designated evacuation centers.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices of Tubaran and Pagayawan are presently conducting validation and assessment and have made initial distribution of humanitarian assistance in the form of family food packs.

Thanks and appreciation were extended to Protection Cluster Members of the United Nations on High Commission on the Refugees (UNHCR) based in Lanao del Sur, who contributed to this report and continue to send updates from the ground. This included the Community and Family Services International (CFSI), Casamila Sedic, MSWDO, Tubaran, LDS, Haima Manongkarang, MSWDO, Pagayawan, LDS for providing information on this report.

In another development in Maguindanao, airstrikes by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on 10 June 2018 were launched against a faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the marshy areas of the municipalities of Datu Montawal, Pagalungan, Gen. SK Pendatun, and Sultan sa Barongis in the province of Maguindanao, as well as in the municipality of Pikit in the province of North Cotabato. 

As of 13 June 2018, prompted approximately 4,200 families (20,279 individuals) were forced to flee from the municipalities of Pagalungan, Datu Montawal, Sultan sa Barungis, General SK Pendatun and Pikit. This figure is expected to rise as military operations continue against the BIFF armed men. 

Thanks and appreciation were extended to all UNHCR Protection Cluster Members based in Cotabato who contributed to this report and committed to continue sending updates from the ground. (News reports filed by Jun Enriquez; UNHCR reports)

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