NPAs sighted in 4 MisOr villages; residents flee

CAGAYAN DE ORO Around 200 armed men believed to be New People's Army (NPA) rebels have forced 173 families from four hinterland villages of Opol, Misamis Oriental to flee their homes on Tuesday morning, August 8.

Opol town mayor Max Seno said the over 500 individual evacuees, mostly mothers and children, have fled to the Opol evacuation center.

"Dili tanan nag-evacuate. Ang uban labi na mga lalaki nagpabilin (Not all have evacuated. The men have remained)," Seno said.

Seno said the evacuees are residents of Barangays Limonda, Cauyonan, Nangcaon and Tingalan.

He said Limonda and Cauyonan are connected to Lanao and Bukidnon areas respectively.

Seno said the suspected communist rebels were sighted at the four villages since last week.

"Kada barangay ingon sila naay mga 50 so more or less 200 kabuok ang garoving pero dili gapondo. Murag gatagbo-tagbo sila sa mga barangay (There are about 50 to 200 men roving in the area but not in one place. They meet at other barangays)," Seno said.

"Namakwit ning mga residente kay nahadlok sila sa mga armed group nga ga-roving since last week mga Thursday (The residents have evacuated because they are afraid of the armed group who's been roving since Thursday last week)," Seno added.

But Seno clarified that the residents were not harassed by the armed group.

The town's local chief executive said a state of calamity was declared in these villages so the calamity fund could be used to assist the evacuees with their needs.

Seno said the evacuees have been given blankets, mats, food and other basic needs.

The mayor also emphasized that the local government has coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd) to handle the educational needs of the children.