Thousands evacuated as gov’t troops engage remnants of Isis-Maute in Lanao del Sur
By Bonita Ermac
TUBARAN, Lanao del Sur – Firefight between the military and the remnants of the ISIS-Maute group erupted Sunday in barangay Guiarong located at the boundary of the municipality of Tubaran and Pagayawan.
Dozens of residents from from embattled Tubaran, Lanao del Sur occupying one of the buildings of an Arabic schools in adjacent Binidayan town for refuge from military offensives launched Sunday against ISIS-inspired militants led by Abu Darm/ Ali Macabalang)
Provincial Information Officer Jennie Tamano said barangays in two municipalities of Tubaran and Pagayawan were affected and residents were evacuated to a safer place.
Ms. Casamila Sedic, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) of the Municipality of Tubaran said affected barangays are Wago, Guiarong Tubaran, Malaganding, Tubaran Proper, Madaya, Gaput, Dinaigan, and Alog.
An estimated 500 families are being housed at Tangkal Elementary School and National High School while the rest are in the in the Multi-purpose building of Malaganding.
From MSWDO of Pagayawan, around 255 families were displaced and out of this, 57 are now in evacuation centers in Toril and Tent EC (evacuation centers).
According to reports, almost half of the population of the said barangays have been evacuated. Some are trapped in Barangays Padas and Diampaca pending military clearance, said Tamano.
Among the barangays affected in Pagayawan are Padas, Guiarong Pagayawan, Linindingan, Diampaca, Bangon, and Madang.
Initially, Mayor Abdullah Datumulok of Binidayan town reported that as of 8 p.m. on Sunday, some 723 families (3,571 individuals) from Tubaran and Pagayawan affected by the ongoing military pursuit operation of the AFP have been given assistance.
Governor Bedjoria Soraya Alonto Adiong immediately ordered the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to provide all the necessary humanitarian response and assistance to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the latest military operation.
She also ordered the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office to prepare relief goods to be distributed to the IDPs once there is clearance from the AFP stating that it is safe to go to Tubaran, Pagayawan and other affected areas, Tamano said.
Governor Adiong is asking her constituents to remain calm and pray for everyone’s safety. She has ordered the Provincial Information Office to continuously coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines for updates, Tamano added.