1 killed as MILF and MNLF followers clash in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato—Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front clashed at least twice on Sunday in the municipality of Matalam, leaving at least one person dead and forcing about 90 others out of their homes to seek safety elsewhere, police said.

Senior Insp. Jojit Nicolas, speaking for the North Cotabato police office, said the fighting was triggered by a long-standing feud involving families who happened to have relatives in both Moro organizations.

He said families displaced by the fighting were now housed at the municipal gymnasium.

Nicolas said Sunday’s clashes—one in the morning and another in the afternoon— were between followers of MILF Commander Marsagar and MNLF Commander Sandab. The new fighting was triggered by the killing of Mintato Galangan, a resident of Barangay Manubuan in Matalam apparently identified with the MILF side.

Nicolas said Galangan was harvesting bananas when an alleged member of the MNLF showed up and fired at him.

The incident was followed by a retaliatory attack from the group of Commander Marsagar, triggering a 30-minute firefight.

Last Sunday’s clashes were triggered by family feud, Nicolas said.

Policemen and soldiers were deployed along the Kidapawan City-Matalam highway following Sunday’s violence to prevent the conflict from reaching the national highway and disrupting the flow of traffic.

Barangay Manubuan is about a kilometer from the main highway.