More troops sent to protect civilians from Moro rebel infighting in Maguindanao

KORONADAL City, Philippines—The military has deployed more soldiers to Datu Piang town in Maguindanao to protect civilians in the infighting of two Moro rebel commanders that has already left at least 20 combatants dead.

“We have deployed additional forces in the ground. They are ready for any eventuality. If civilians are hurt, that’s another story,” Lt. Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesman for the military’s 6th Division, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Asto said there was no reported exchange of gunfire since Sunday night in Datu Piang town between Commander Adzmi Kasim of the MILF’s 106th Base and forces of a commander under the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters of Ameril Umbra Kato, a rogue MILF field commander.

The MILF said land dispute has been the main cause of the fighting between the two groups. The fighting started when the group of Commander Abunawas, a follower of Kato, attacked the group of commander Adzmi in Nimao village.

The encounter spread to the villages of Liong, Alunganen and Balanakan due to reinforcements from both sides.

Asto said they put up an Internally Displaced People desk at the town proper to take care of the 800 displaced families in the area for their needs while the area is unstable.

“The government will ensure that our evacuees can have the necessary assistance in terms of foods, materials and for their other necessities. They will also render some entertainment like a movie show while they are in the evacuation centers during nighttime to hasten the distress that they are sufferings,” Asto said.

Von Al Haq, spokesman for the MILF, said some followers of Kato have withdrawn and that civilians can return to their respective villages soon.

“The fighting already subsided and (there is) no more massing up of troops. This is a good indication,” Al haq said.

Kato was responsible for a series of attacks against civilian communities during the collapse of the peace talks in 2008.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that “until he returns to the fold of the MILF, he (Kato) is a lost command.”

Jaafar allayed fears that the formation of the BIFF could affect the ongoing peace talks between the government and the MILF.

When asked whether Kato’s group has been a threat to the peace process, the MILF official said, “No, he is not. His group is insignificant.”

Jaafar claimed that for several instances, Kato had defied the directive coming from the MILF leadership, prompting the group to put him and his group under a lost command status.

Jaafar also said policemen and soldiers could not just enter the conflict-affected area to run after Kato and his group without coordination with the MILF and the International Monitoring Team (IMT).