PEACE PACT. Commander Rajan Abdulrahman (in black shirt), deputy commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) 114th Base Command, and Mohammad Juddihal Muddalan, chairperson of Barangay Parangbasak in Lamitan City, Basilan province, shake hands as they peacefully settle their dispute on Tuesday (Jan. 17, 2023). The dispute was resolved through the intercession of the Government of the Philippines-MILF-Moro National Liberation Front-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities. (Photo courtesy of Western Mindanao Command)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Warring factions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Lamitan City, Basilan province, have settled their dispute, the military reported Wednesday.
In a statement, the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said the dispute was peacefully settled on Tuesday following a series of dialogues initiated by government officials and the MNLF and MILF leaders.
The conflict is between the group of Commander Rajan Abdulrahman, the deputy commander of 114th MILF Base Command, and the combined group of Usong Ugong of the MNLF-Misuari faction, and Mohammad Juddihal Muddalan, chairperson of Barangay Parangbasak in Lamitan City.
The rift started after Abdulrahman's men allegedly killed a suspected drug pusher who was the nephew of Ugong and Muddalan in August 2022.
A month after the killing, Abdulrahman and his followers were waylaid by the group of Ugong and Muddalan. Several followers of Abdulrahman were wounded during the ambush.
“The Government of the Philippines-Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (GPH-MILF CCCH) immediately intervened to preempt the situation from getting worse and avoid its escalation in the area,” said Lt. Col. Abdurasad Sirajan, Westmincom information officer.
Sirajan is also the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) action officer for the Western Mindanao area.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, acting Westmincom chief, lauded the people behind the resolution of the conflict.
“I hope that this will be the start of a better relationship among the peace-inclined groups. Let us all be united for peace,” Rojas said. (PNA)
