SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao: Some 400 residents of upland Barangay Camutan in Antipas, North Cotabato were used as human shields by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Thursday, a local government official said. There is a heavy NPA presence in Camutan. The Department of Education and school officials immediately closed all schools and evacuated the schoolchildren to safer areas. Antipas Mayor Egidio Cadungon, chairman of the municipal peace and order council, confirmed the occupation of Barangay Camutan by armed NPA rebels who looted houses, collected money from the villagers and took their farm animals. Romeo Galgo, Police Regional Office-12 spokesman said about 300 fully armed NPA rebels stormed Camutan at around 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, preventing residents from leaving in an apparent attempt to use them as human shields against pursuing government forces.

Source: Manila Times March 24, 2017 13:18 UTC