At least 10 dead in MILF infighting in Maguindanao del Sur

Soldiers from 90th Infantry Battalion rushed to Barangay Kilanan, Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur early Wednesday afternoon (Oct 30) after warring members of MILF clashed due to land dispute. —Photo courtesy of Jess Ali

KABACAN, COTABATO, Philippines – Bloody skirmishes erupted Wednesday afternoon involving members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in a remote village in Pagalungan town, Maguindanao del Sur that claimed the lives of at least 10 men, police said.

The fighting triggered by land dispute was between Engr. Datu Alonto Sultan of the MILF’s 105th base command against the group of Commander Ikot Dandua and Commander Bawse of 128th and 129th base commands, respectively, in Barangay Kilangan, Pagalungan.

Kunakon said the scene of the skirmishes is far from the national highway linking Maguindanao del Sur and Cotabato provinces.

A report by Major Zukarnain Kunakon, Pagalungan municipal police station chief, said about 10 dead bodies have been recovered in the encounter site.

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However, residents who fled to safer grounds after the skirmishes erupted at about 1 p.m. said at least 19 have been killed in the sporadic clashes.

They said the group of Commander Sultan suffered 17 fatalities and two dead on the side of Commander Dandua. But police and military authorities could not independently confirm the exact number of fatalities.

Civilians, including children, leave their homes in several sub-villages in Barangay Kilanan, Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur as two groups of warring MILF traded shots on Wednesday afternoon, Oct 30. —Photo courtesy of Mike Mamalumpong of Barangay Kilanan, Pagalungan, Maguindanao Sur

Kautin Samda, a resident of Kilangan, said in a radio interview that fighting was still on going as of 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The Pagalungan municipal police said the total number of fatalities remained unclear as validation was ongoing as of posting.

Commander Dandua told reporters his group captured 12 assorted long firearms from the slain followers of Commander Sultan.

In a previous radio interview, Commander Sultan has been claiming ownership of a vast tract of lands in Barangay Kilanan, showing land titles.

But Commander Dandua insisted the disputed farm lot is owned by his ancestors and his family has been living in the area for the past 40 years.

Soldiers from the 90th Infantry Battalion and Pagalungan municipal police are staying in the periphery of Barangay Kilanan along with the displaced civilians to allow the MILF leadership to defuse the tension between the warring clans.