Gov’t soldiers sent to secure N. Cotabato villagers displaced by clan feuds

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The military’s 7th Infantry Battalion has sent peacekeeping forces to a remote village in North Cotabato to secure some 250 families who have been displaced by a supposed clan war involving members of Moro rebel groups.

“It’s a family feud involving families who happen to be members of the Moro National Libertion Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” Col. Prudencio Asto, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said.

Asto said the sporadic skirmishes between MNLF and MILF happened in Sitio Maputi, Barangay Tonganon, Carmen, North Cotabato.

“It was not an organization fight, it just so happened that they belonged to MNLF or MILF,” he said.

He said fighting started Sunday between groups led by a certain Teo of the MNLF and Karim of the MILF 110th base command.

At least 250 families from the sub-villages of Maputi and Gawasan fled toward Barangay Tonganon proper.

Col. Benjamin Hao, 7th Infantry Battalion commander, said at least four houses were torched by the warring groups.

He sent two platoons of 7th IB, one to monitor the clashes the other to provide security to the displaced families.

Hao has also urged local Muslim clerics to help separate the warring groups and amicably settle their misunderstanding.