4 dead, 4 hurt in MILF infighting in Maguindanao

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Four Moro civilians were killed and four others were reported injured when hit by stray bullets following sporadic gunfights Sunday in Barangay Kaya-Kaya, Datu Abdullah Sangki town in Maguindanao.

Involved in the gunfights were armed men belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) locked in a long-standing family feud over ownership of a vast tract of farm lots.

Several civilians have fled to safer grounds after the group of Datu Item and the other by Commander Bravo Lindungan started trading bullets and 40-mm mortars at 9 a.m. Sunday.

As of Monday morning, the warring groups were still trading bullets every now and then, civilians from Barangay Kaya-Kaya said.

Reports reaching the office of Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, police director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, showed that the two warring MILF leaders were squabbling over ownership of a vast tract of land, some of which are planted to bananas for export.

Major Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the fatalities were civilians trapped when the warring armed men traded shots and mortars.

They were identified as Jana Sangki, Denden Guiapal, Agus Endal, and a certain Bryan, all suffered bullet wounds in different parts of their bodies.

The Army is verifying reports if both sides suffered casualties in the firefight.

6th ID chief Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, according to Encinas, has directed the 601st and 1st mechanized brigade to help local officials and the MILF settle the conflict peacefully.

The displaced families are now being attended to by the local government of Abdullah Sangki.