Mother, son killed in clan war in Cotabato City village; classes suspended

COTABATO CITY, Philippines— A long standing family feud in the west coast of this city that recently claimed the lives of a mother and son has also forced the cancellation of classes.

Classes at the Timako Elementary School in Barangay Kalanganan 2 here were suspended Tuesday and Wednesday, according to head teacher Benjamin Wahab.

“Some fled while others opted to stay home but prevented their children from going to school,” Wahab said, adding that about half of the school population of 400 did not show up.

Following the killings, several families have fled for fear the situation will worsen as the warring families were all armed.

For the safety of pupils and teachers, Wahab said classes were suspended. He could not say when classes will resume.

Residents have appealed to local government units and village officials to take a look at the peace and order situation of the village.

Relatives of Saimona Abdulla Dimatingkal, 42, and her four-year-old son Saada, believed they were mistakenly executed by gunmen locked in a “rido” (family feud) with another family in the same village.

Saimona’s husband Jainal escaped unhurt when gunmen armed with assault rifles riddled their banca with bullets at about 8 a.m. Tuesday.

It turned out that a certain Yusop Wasay borrowed the wooden banca of the Dimatingkals a week before the shooting.

Police investigators said Wasay has been locked in a family feud with an unidentified family in Barangay Kalanganan.

Police have declared the killings on Tuesday as a case of mistaken identity, spurred by a clan war.

Jainal was the one operating the banca with his family on board when gunmen fired at them at the borders of Barangays Bagua Uno and Dos.

Jainal said he and his family went to the local market to buy food and were already on their way home when they were fired at.

Police said the gunmen, numbering about 10, were armed with M-16 Armalite rifles and M-79 grenade launchers.

Jainal said he jumped overboard when the gunmen started firing, killing his wife and child.

He said he knew the gunmen and has already told the police about them.