4 killed as rival rebels clash in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines—Fighters from the largest Muslim rebel group in the Philippines battled with a breakaway faction in fierce clashes that killed four combatants and renewed concerns over the infighting’s effect on already-shaky peace talks, officials said Thursday.

Guerrillas from the main Moro Islamic Liberation Front were passing through a village near Datu Piang town in southern Maguindanao province when they were ambushed Wednesday by followers of radical breakaway commander Ameril Umbra Kato, rebel spokesman Von Al Haq said.

Regional military spokesman Col. Manuel Luis Ochotorena said two combatants from each side were killed and five others were wounded in the gunbattle. A woman hiding in her home was wounded in the crossfire.

Government troops did not meddle in the fighting, which forced at least 300 villagers to flee, Ochotorena said.

Philippine officials expressed concern over the rebel infighting, which they said called into question the main guerrilla group’s ability to rein in their fighters to follow any accord that could be struck in the yearslong peace talks being brokered by Malaysia.

“This contributes to the deterioration of the peace and order on the ground, which is not conducive for the talks,” said Brigadier General Ariel Bernardo, the government representative in a joint ceasefire committee with the rebels.

Kato broke away from the main Moro group this year and organized a new group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement, with more than 200 armed fighters. Kato said the peace talks have gone nowhere and that his group would continue the battle for an independent homeland for minority Muslims in the south.

He has also accused his former comrades of involvement in kidnappings for ransom and drug trafficking.

The main Moro rebel group and Kato’s followers clashed for the first time last month, when two commanders from both sides clashed due to an old land feud in Datu Piang. The weeklong clashes killed at least 14 guerrillas and displaced more than 3,000 villagers.