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AT least a thousand people fled their homes in Barangay Langgawisan, Maragusan, Compostela Valley, fled their homes after New People’s Army rebels allegedly entered their communities and coerced them on Tuesday morning.

Maj. Ezra Balagtey, chief of Public Information Office of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the fleeing residents are currently holed up at the covered court and a school in Barangay Coronobe of the same municipality.

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Balagtey said troops under the 66th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Palmer Parungao have already been deployed to the area.

In a statement, the military said the armed group entered the community at 11 am on Tuesday, threatening the residents and holding some of them, including community leaders and teachers.

“They have fled due to the heavy presence and coercion of NPAs in the area,” it added.

It said the military is now coordinating with local government of Maragusan and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of New Bataan, headed by Lynne Dollolasa, in terms of the security and distribution of food supplies and interventions for the displaced residents.

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., the commander, condemned the NPA for the alleged attacks and vowed to immediately restore normalcy in the area.

“We condemn this NPA’s terroristic act as it adds misery to this far-flung community. We are taking the necessary action to restore normalcy in the area and coordination with concerned offices are being done to mitigate the misery of the community,” he said. (antonio colina of mindanews)

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