Armed men attack Datu Piang town center in Maguindanao

About 50 armed men attacked the town area in Barangay Poblacion in Datu Piang, Maguindanao late Thursday evening.

Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force- Central, added that the attack occurred at around 10:30 p.m. and that the same group burned a police car.

The group has been identified as member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Karialan Saga Animbang and a person identified as "Motorola" with about 50 members.

The BIFF left the area after they burned the PNP patrol car.

The military, in a statement said that at present, soldiers are in the area and are in control of the situation.

"There was no reported casualties on the PNP except for the patrol car that was burned by the BIFF. We are currently investigating the incident."

In a separate interview, Fr. Eliseo Mercado, OMI expressed concern over the attack as he told GMA News Online that the Sta. Teresita church and a Catholic school run by Oblates of Notre Dame nuns are located near the site.

Mercado said that the parish priest, Fr. Prudencio Alviar, OMI is not at the church at the time of the attack. Alviar is in Kidapawan because his sister recently passed away. -- BAP, GMA News