Hundreds of homes burned in RP

Wed, 18 Dec 1996 | Source: AFP

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): Suspected Christian vigilantes torched a mosque and about 100 Moslem homes in a southern Philippine town near this city in an apparent escalation of a sectarian feud, the military said yesterday.

Lt. Noel Detoyato, spokesman of for an army division based here, said the unidentified attackers poured petrol on the houses and set fire to them Monday night in Bual village.

Residents managed to flee their homes and no-one was hurt or killed, Detoyato said.

He added the attack was in apparent retaliation by Bual's Christian minority for alleged extortion activities by some residents who have reportedly resorted to killing those who refused to pay up.

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