Philippines: IDP Protection Assessment Report - Armed Encounter in Maguindanao (AFP vs IS-inspired BIFF) Issue No. 01 (25 December 2017)
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In late December 2017, skirmishes stemming from a land dispute broke out between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and a faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) that has reportedly declared allegiance to the Islamic State. The land in question covers the Mount Firis Complex, an area that is considered sacred ground by several Indigenous Peoples (IPs) groups – the Teduray, Lambangian, and Dulangan Manobo. It is said that several towns in the province of Maguindanao such as Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Guindulungan, Shariff Aguak, and Talayan were carved out from the surrounding land of Mt. Firis Complex.
On 25 December, the BIFF faction tried to overrun a Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment in Mt. Firis, with the aim of occupying it, and ignited a firefight with the military. A number of IP families from Sitio Makun of Barangay Limpongo, in Datu Hoffer municipality, pre-emptively evacuated as a result. Several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were planted, which detonated in the following days, killing and wounding a number of Government troops as well as civilians. More civilian displacement was recorded until the end of 2017. Some civilian houses were also reportedly set on fire by the rebel group.
CURRENT SITUATION
Pre-emptive evacuations were again reported in several other communities in the municipalities of Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Datu Salibu, Datu Unsay and Datu Saudi Ampatuan on 10 January 2018 because of the ongoing military operations against the IS-inspired BIFF faction. This also triggered a re- positioning of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) units in the area in order to avoid the risk of misencounters between government forces and the MILF. The displaced populations in these communities returned three days after being displaced.
From 25 December 2017 until this report, around 1,279 families (estimated 6,395 persons) in total were displaced as a result of the continuing conflict. It should be noted that this figure is limited to the reported numbers shared with Protection Cluster members. Out of this number, some 790 families (approximately 3,950 individuals) have been verified to have returned to their habitual residences (see table below).