2 dead in clash between 2 MILF rival groups in Maguindanao

KORONADAL CITY—Two people were killed while a ranking rebel leader and several others were injured during a clash between two rival groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao.

The clash came after Wednesday’s murder of a town councilor there, the military said Friday.

Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, chief of the 6th Infantry Division’s Civil Military Operations (CMO) battalion, said Haon Sindatok, commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 105th base command, was injured in the left arm during a clash Thursday night until Friday dawn with members of the MILF’s 118th base command – under Commander Ustadz Wahid Tundok – in Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Datu Salibo towns, both in Maguindanao.

The infighting started when Councilor Sahabudin Namli, 42, was shot dead in Datu Saudi Ampatuan on Wednesday. Namli was Tundok’s brother-in-law.

Tundok reportedly initiated the attack against Sindatok’s group, which he suspected of killing Namli.

Citing reports from government forces on the ground, Besana said two followers of the warring rebel groups had been killed and 11 others were hurt in the overnight skirmishes that also sent hundreds of families fleeing to safer grounds.

The displaced families from Barangay Madia are now in relatives’ homes in the villages of Dapiawan and Elian, both in Datu Salibo town.

“Tension had died down Friday dawn but both sides are still in fighting mode,” he said.

Besana said the MILF leadership had already sent emissaries to pacify the warring MILF leaders.