Thousands flee homes as warring Moro factions clash in Maguindanao

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — Fighting between guerrillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters continued sporadically for a third day on Friday, and a military official said thousands of people have fled their homes in a remote village in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, to escape the violence.

A 15-year-old girl was among several persons injured in the clashes in the village of Ganta,  said Brigadier General Ariel Bernardo, chief of the government’s coordinating committee on cessation of hostilities. He said the girl, a student in the Ganta Elementary School, was hit by a stray bullet while helping her parents escape.

“Over 3,600 people have fled their homes in Ganta since Wednesday because of the violence,” Bernardo said.

Von Al Haq, MILF spokesperson, said on Thursday that four combatants – two from the MILF and two from the BIFF – were killed and five others were wounded.

Al Haq said the fighting, which was continuing sporadically, began after Umbra Kato’s men allegedly ambushed fighters of the MILF’s 106th Base Command on Wednesday.

Bernardo said the MILF rebels were returning to camp from a meeting when fired upon.

“The fighting was sporadic. Our men did not fire first. They were ambushed by Kato’s men while crossing the village,” Al Haq said.

Last month, at least 14 MILF and BIFF fighters were killed in clashes in Datu Piang.

The MILF said the clashes were not an off-shoot of Kato’s decision to break away from the MILF but was rooted in a land conflict.

Kato, former commander of the MILF’s 105th Base Command, left the rebel group last year over several issues, including the peace process. In January, he announced that he had formed the BIFF.

Al Haq said efforts to settle the land conflict were ongoing.

Meanwhile, in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo rejected suggestions to allow civilians to carry firearms to thwart MILF attacks.

In 2008, the province became a battleground when MILF forces under Abdullah Macapaar alias Bravo attacked civilian communities.

“I don’t want civilians carrying firearms in Lanao del Norte because that would make the province akin to the Wild Wild West. That could turn into a bigger problem than the rebels,” Dimaporo said.

He said he saw no problem if local government units – in coordination with the police and the military – set up some kind of a defense system but it should be manned by authorized personnel and civilians with licensed guns.

“Our main objective is not to fight the MILF but to keep civilians safe,” Dimaporo said.

With a report from Richel Umel, Inquirer Mindanao