School, chapel in Pigcawayan severely damaged due to BIFF attacks

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) members are already out of Pigcawayan town but the authorities found a school and a chapel in shambles after the attack.

The Malagakit Elementary School was vandalized with writings on walls purportedly done by BIFF members and aimed at insulting soldiers as they also left burned posters of President Rodrigo Duterte and a stained Philippine flag.

According to a report by GMA News' Cesar Apolinario on "24 Oras" on Thursday, BIFF members also destroyed the doors and chairs of classrooms, including the books.

Despite the destruction, the Philippine flag was raised, as a way of showing the people that the area has been declared a "safe zone" as government troops were deployed to guard the area.

Aside from the school, the BIFF also destroyed religious statues inside the San Jose chapel in Malagakit town.

The BIFF group led by Commander Abunawas Damiog alias Bayawak, Commander Abu Zaiden, and  Commander Sala attacked the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team detachment Wednesday morning.

Based on the data from the Cotabato Police Provincial Office and Philippine Army, eight people were killed and ten injured (BIFF bandits among them), following the attack. 

Meanwhile, the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Cotabato said the threat to security in the area remains.

"Mataas pa ang threat. Di sila umaalis sa lugar. Sa tapat lang ng mga... ng bayan na 'to, ng Pigcawayan. Nandiyan lang sila kumbaga sa kabilang ilog," Rolly Sacdalan, Cotabato DRRMC chairman, said.

Authorities will continue to monitor the area and enforce strict inspection to guard against any future threat, the report said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BAP/KVD, GMA News