MILF chief, son killed in ambush sparked by clan war in Maguindanao

Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front AP FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY, Philippines–A ranking commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and his son, who was serving as a village chairman, were killed in an ambush in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao, on Wednesday night, the Army here said.

Saddam Mohammad, a barangay chairman in Sultan sa Barongis, and his father, Saddam Batuh alias Commander Batuh, were riding on a motorbike at 5 p.m. en route to the town center from their farm when gunmen shot them with assault rifles, said Colonel Dickson Hermoso, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson.

Hermoso told reporters that both died on the spot.

The military immediately deployed a peacekeeping contingent in Sultan sa Barongis to prevent fighting among armed groups.

Citing reports from the field, Hermoso said the attackers were led by another MILF commander, Kagui Said, whose family has been locked in a “rido”

(clan war) with the Mohammads.

“They have clashed in the past, it’s a long standing family feud triggered by land dispute,” Hermoso said.

He said members of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion have been guarding strategic areas in Sultan sa Barongis to prevent an encounter between the warring families.  The Army has also officially informed the leadership of the MILF of the killing.

Sultan Kudarat officials have sent emissaries to the elders of the Mohammad family to convince them to refrain from retaliating and bring the matter to proper forum.

Colonel Markton Abo, 33rd IB commander, has also officially informed the joint government-MILF ceasefire committee to help resolve the conflict amicably and avoid further armed conflicts between the two groups who have followers in the MILF.