3 dead in Maguindanao plantation skirmish

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat – The clashes between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and security volunteers of Delinanas banana plantation that broke out on Sunday and continued until Monday in Datu Abdullah Sangki (DAS), Maguindanao have left three people dead and another wounded, police said.

Police said the encounter was triggered by a “misunderstanding.”

Police Major Alma Ladera, DAS town police chief, identified the fatalities as MILF members Datu Ila Mohammad and Toy Taha and a still unidentified plantation security personnel.

Tanto Abdul, a security-worker of the banana plantation, was wounded.

The skirmish erupted on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. after a misunderstanding between  Commander Tommy of the MILF’s 105^th base command and followers of a certain Aldrex Kali.

The warring groups only ceased fighting when the MILF and the local government units intervened on Monday.

“They were supposed to sit down for a dialogue over the termination of some plantation workers who belonged to the MILF or their relatives,” Ladera said.

Ladera said 10 workers were terminated for violating company policies.

They were either MILF members or had relatives with the MILF.

“Laid-off workers sought the help of Commander Tommy who, in turn, called on Kali’s group for a talk on the matter,” Ladera added.

But the planned meeting turned bloody when the MILF members refused to lay down their guns as they entered the venue.

Police officers and the 2^nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion were deployed in the area to help diffuse the tension. /gsg