Residents of a village in Baganga town, Davao Oriental have fled and refused to return to their village two weeks after the Army accused them of relaying information of troop movements to the New People's Army, a human rights group said.
A fresh clash erupted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao, wounding 10 and claiming the lives of 5 others as the nation observed Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of the Holy Week.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities (MILF-CCCH) refuted claims of near armed encounters between the MILF and police forces last March 14 in Maguindanao.
A Moro group on Saturday has accused the military of directly burning nine houses and two mosques in various villages in Maguindanao last March 18.
The Army announced it would pull out from the communities in Barangay Balit, municipality of San Luis, Agusan Del Sur following a dialogue with residents and local officials on Wednesday morning.