Bloody land feud spills over to more villages

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao—Clashes between two groups of Moro guerrillas spurred by a land feud continued for a fourth day Thursday and have spread to four villages in the town of Sultan sa Barongis in this province.

The clashes, which continued to rage amid the observance of Ramadan in the Muslim-dominated province, has left a 14-year-old girl wounded and displaced at least 15,000 people from their homes, according to the military and local officials.

Gun battles between the groups of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members known only as Basco and Kubota started on Monday as residents of two villages—Kulambog and Tukanakoden—were observing Ramadan.

Col. Mayoralgo dela Cruz, head of the Army’s First Mechanized Brigade, said the fighting erupted over a land conflict.

Von Al Haq, MILF spokesperson, said clashes between the two groups were reported in two more villages of Sultan sa Barongis.

He also confirmed reports that the clashes were spurred by a land feud. He said Murad Ebrahim, MILF chair, has sent an emissary on a mission to pacify the warring groups.

Zamzamin Ampatuan, chair of Barangay Poblacion in nearby Raja Buayan, Maguindanao, said at least 300 families displaced by the fighting are now in his village.

“We pity our brothers and sisters because they are observing the fasting month and are weak but still have to evacuate,” Ampatuan said.

Sultan sa Barongis Mayor Allan Angas said at least 15,000 people had been displaced by the fighting which he described as “senseless.”

Dr. Tahir Sulaik, Maguindanao provincial health chief, said health teams have been sent to aid the displaced people.

Brig. Gen. Leo Cresente Ferrer, a senior military adviser to the government peace panel, said the MILF should resolve the dispute between Basco and Kubota and similar feuds because these could threaten the peace process.

He said uncoordinated MILF guerrilla movements believed to be related to the fighting are alarming the military.

“We call on MILF leaders to show their collective sincerity and commitment to the peace process,” said Ferrer. Edwin Fernandez and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao