4 killed as rival Moro factions clash in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—At least four people were killed when rival Moro groups clashed in Maguindanao as a result of a long-standing land dispute, military and civilian officials said Saturday.

Mayor Benzar Ampatuan of Mamasapano, Maguindanao, said in a radio interview that fighters belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front  traded bullets with members of Umra Kato’s breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Barangay Lower Libutan on Thursday.

“They clashed and both sides suffered casualties,” Ampatuan said, adding that the incident also triggered evacuations.

He said the clash was rooted in a  long-standing land dispute.

Colonel Edgardo Gonzales, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade, said he has ordered the deployment of peace-keeping forces in Mamasapano to prevent the conflict from escalating.

Ampatuan said he has  initiated a dialogue aimed at bringing the warring groups to a settlement, or at least an agreement that they will not use violence to settle their dispute.

Ampatuan said he has also asked the government and the MILF ceasefire committees to step in.

Kato created the BIFF in 2010 when be broke away from the MILF over peace talks with the government.