Ampatuan civilians carry guns vs. BIFF

AMPATUAN, Maguindanao – Civilians in a
farming village here have vowed not to allow another atrocities by outlawed
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

On Monday, civilian farmers, who call themselves
Christian settlers, opted to carry guns to defend ourselves and our
communities.”

At night, they remain awake. At day, they took turns in taking a nap several
days after about 300 heavily armed BIFF stormed the village of Kauran and
nearby villages on Christmas Day, killing eight hapless farmers.

This is too much, who will protect us, especially
at night but ourselves,” a male farmer, about 40 years old, said, brandishing
his M-16 Armalite rifle. He asked not to
be named or photographed.

We mourn the death of our six village-mates,” the
man said, his face showed indications of lack of sleep.

Another armed villager, also requested anonymity,
said reports have been circulating around the village that the BIFF are just
few kilometres away, closely watching village activities.

We have information they may attack again, this
time we are ready,” he said in Filipino.

Since the fateful dawn of December 24, male
villagers remain in their communities while children and women moved to the
village hall at night.

At night, male villagers, majority were armed,
patrol the village’ periphery, and sometimes traded shots with armed men a
kilometre or so away.

We will fight back, those killed on Dec. 24 were defenseless,
unarmed and no intension of harming anyone or anybody, this time we will
fight,” he said in Filipino.

sand//scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t34.0-12/12463597_10208176090347850_1961274895_n.jpg?oh=e8238dc61bba37a8d7c4340d33370df0andampoe=56832024 Another farmer, this time unarmed, said the BIFF
should never enter the village again. Leave us alone, allow us to farm freely
because this is for our family,” he said, obviously referring to the BIFF.

He said it really pained the relatives of those
mercilessly killed. They were all bread winners, they were unarmed, they were ordinary
farmers, their families are now orphaned,” he told reporters.

It’s Christmas. It really hurts when we are
supposed to celebrate, now we are mourning the loss of our loved ones,” said
another farmer who lost a brother in BIFF attacks.

Worst, the BIFF rebels were sniping at us as we
retrieved the dead bodies,” he said.

On Monday, the Humanitarian Emergency Assistance
Response Team (HEART), the humanitarian arm of the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM), distributed relief goods to displaced families, including a
check worth P10,000 for each family who lost a dear relative.

The Maguindanao provincial government also
distributed another P10,000 cash and a sack of rice for the relatives of each
dead farmer.

Maj. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz, Western Mindanao
Command chief, met with local military commanders Monday.

As long as there are groups that harass our
helpless civilians, we will hold the attackers responsible and accountable. We
will not allow them to go on with senseless killings,” Dela Cruz told
reporters. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)