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| Southeast Asia |
| BIFF militants flee in school siege |
| 2017-06-25 |
| Militants who stormed a primary school in a southern Philippines town on Wednesday have fled, leaving 31 hostages, including 12 children, unharmed. Military spokesman Restituto Padilla said, "The enemy made a hasty withdrawal, leaving behind 31 hostages, among them 12 youngsters." Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters raided a school in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato on Wednesday morning. Witnesses about a kilometer from the school said they could hear gunfire. Earlier, a BIFF spokesman said they had taken civilians to a safe place after a firefight erupted with troops and did not intend to hold them. Padilla said it was possible the attack was meant to disrupt an ongoing military offensive against a separate group of Maute militants who laid siege to Marawi in Lanao del Sur province. |
| Posted by:ryuge |