Stop the clashes, villagers ask military, police execs

COTABATO CITY—Fed up with fleeing from clashes involving a brother of their mayor, villagers in Datu Montawal town in Maguindanao have urged military and police authorities to step in and end their ordeal.

Since October, about 100 families have fled their neighborhoods as an armed group allegedly led by Andy Montawal fought its rivals, including that of his brother’s, Mayor Utto.

In a dialogue with authorities last week, the residents lamented that despite previous arrest warrants for his alleged involvement in kidnapping, rape and other crimes, Andy Montawal, along with his followers, continued to roam freely in Barangays Tunggol and Talapas.

The latest clash took place on Sunday, involving Montawal’s men and those led by “Commander Bingkug” of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

No casualties were reported, but the violence triggered a fresh wave of evacuation among civilians, police said.

Police said the fighting stemmed from the killing of a relative of Bingkug in nearby Kabacan town in North Cotabato a few weeks ago.

Col. Benjamin Hao, head of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, described Andy’s group as heavily armed.

He said the military wanted to take him in with less violence. But he added that other options were being considered, which he did not specify.

Hao said Andy’s relatives had pledged to help convince him to surrender.

Acting Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has ordered the regional police “to act decisively on the series of skirmishes and atrocities in Montawal.”

Relief agencies and international organizations have been attending to the needs of the displaced families, now sheltered in different public centers in Montawal town.