COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Three people were killed when Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels battled anew their former comrades who have joined a breakaway group in Maguindanao on Sunday, according to a military report.
Several families fled their homes in Barangay (village) Campo Dos in Guindolongan town because of the clash reportedly fueled by a family feud, the report released by the Army’s 6th Infantry Division on Monday said.
The villagers returned home after the fighting subsided in the evening.
Two of those killed belonged to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the breakaway group founded by former MILF leader Ameril Umra Kato, while the other fatality was an MILF rebel, Abu Misri Mama, BIFF spokesperson, confirmed the clash in Guindolongan, but said it did not involved the MILF and the BIFF.
“That was triggered by family feud and not between MILF and BIFF forces,” Mama said.
Von Al Haq, MILF spokesperson, issued a similar statement. “It was between two feuding groups and not between MILF and BIFF members. No casualty,” he said by phone.
In September, thousands of civilians also fled Barangay Ganta in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao when gunmen identified with the BIFF and the MILF clashed.
Two MILF rebels and two BIFF rebels were killed. Five others, including a 15-year old girl fleeing with her parents, were wounded.
Al Haq said the September fighting was sporadic and was triggered by an ambush staged by Kato’s men against members of the MILF’s 106th Base Command.
In August, 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 long-standing land conflict.