Church-run shelter for refugees torched in Mindanao

A church run evacuation center in the Philippine city of Davao was torched by unidentified men early Wednesday. At least five people, including two children, were hurt in the incident.

Some 700 indigenous people, who were displaced by military operations in the hinterlands of Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Surigao del Sur provinces, have been staying in the church compound since the middle of last year, said Malayao secretary general of the tribal group Katribu to ucanews.com in Manila. 

"We are urging the government to immediately respond to the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice," said Redemptorist Brother Nosi Balgado.  The temporary shelter for the displaced tribal people stands inside the compound of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

Data from the indigenous peoples' group, Katribu, shows that about 60 tribal people in Mindanao have been killed since 2010 when President Benigno Aquino came to power. Katribu's documentation shows that the killings have intensified in 2015, claiming 15 lives. (UCAN)