Residents flee clashes between 2 Moro rebel groups in Maguindanao

Thousands of civilians from a remote village in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, fled as fighting between two rival Moro rebel groups continued on Friday.

A 15-year-old girl was among several persons injured in the clashes that involved Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and members of Ameril Umra Kato’s Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Ganta village, said Brig. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, chief of the government’s coordinating committee on cessation of hostilities.

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

The girl from Ganta Elementary School was hit by a stray bullet while helping her parents escape from the violence, he 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 that started on Wednesday was triggered by an ambush staged by Kato’s men against rebels belonging to the MILF’s 106th Base Command.

Bernardo said 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 offshoot of Kato’s decision to secede from the rebel group but of a longstanding 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 was ongoing.

In Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Gov. Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo trashed suggestions to allow civilians to carry firearms to thwart MILF attacks.

In 2008, the province became a battleground when MILF forces under Abdullah Macapaar 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 gun licenses only.

“Our main objective is not to fight the MILF but to keep civilians safe,” Dimaporo said.  Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao in Koronadal City and Richel Umel, Inquirer Mindanao in Iligan City