7 dead as Moro groups clash in Cotabato
KIDAPAWAN CITY—Armed hostilities involving forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) broke out along the boundary of Kidapawan City and Matalam town in Cotabato province on Monday, resulting in the death of seven men and the temporary displacement of 48 families.
An MILF commander was among those killed in the clash, according to sources and relatives of the victims.
Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, commander of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, said soldiers from the 40th Infantry Battalion were deployed to the village of Estado, Matalam, Cotabato, after the warring families traded shots at 5 a.m. on Monday.
A report from the 40th IB identified the fatalities as Salidato Edris Langalen, a commander of the MILF; and Sammy Baraguir, Marudin Baraguir, Nasrudin Baraguir, Nasrodin Amelil, Mohaimen Amelil and Mastura Dres.
The seven were buried near the old mosque in Barangay Estado on Monday afternoon in accordance to Islamic rites.
Anwar Alamada, chair of the MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, said five of the fatalities belonged to the MILF, including Commander Langalen, while two were from the MNLF.
But neither Alamada nor the military identified which of those who died belonged to what faction, except for Langalen.
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Territorial dispute
The hostilities erupted about 5 a.m. at Barangay Estado in Matalam town, but eventually escalated to nearby Barangay Malinan in Kidapawan City.
Kusain Baraguir, a member of one of the warring clans, said in a radio interview that armed men attacked the village of Estado, where Langalen and his family stayed.
Langalen’s men engaged the attackers in a two-hour firefight that also sent villagers fleeing to safer grounds.
Baraguir said in a radio interview that his family had been locked in a “rido” with another Moro clan for the past 10 years. He refused to identify their enemy clan but said it was over territorial disputes.
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Bunayog said government forces were sent to pacify the warring families and allowed the MILF ceasefire committee to intervene and resolve the conflict.
Alamada said the warring families have stopped the skirmishes as of Tuesday.
He also stressed that the conflict was not about the MILF or the MNLF as organizations but a “clan feud” involving leaders of the two Moro fronts.
“Efforts are underway to resolve their misunderstanding,” Alamada said.
At least 48 families fled their homes during the firefight, but after soldiers were deployed in their communities as peacekeepers, they have since returned home.
