FLEEING THE CLASH SITE. Civilians, mostly women and children, moved to safer areas as Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters start shooting each other on the border of Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Shariff Saydona Mustapha towns in Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday (June 20, 2023). Initial police reports indicate that at least three MILF fighters were killed so far in the infighting. (Photo courtesy of Abuyusef Satol)
AMPATUAN, Maguindanao Sur – Fighting erupted anew between members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in remote villages here Tuesday morning with three combatants allegedly killed so far.
“We are still validating this, but initial reports indicated that three (MILF) fighters got killed in the ongoing skirmishes,” said Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade commander based here, said.
Pangcog said the skirmishes started at 9 a.m. in the province’s adjoining barangays of Dapiawan and Pamalian in Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Shariff Saydona Mustapha towns, respectively.
“This infighting, the fourth this year, has sent villagers fleeting to safer grounds, mostly coming from Barangay Dapiawan,” he said.
The skirmishes stems from a long-standing “rido” (family feud) between leaders of the MILF’s 118th and 105th base commands in the area.
Pangcog said reports from the ground disclosed that two of the MILF members killed were from the 118th base command, while one from the 105th base command.
No civilian was hurt so far, he said.
Soldiers backed by armored personnel carriers were sent to Barangay Dapiawan to disengage the warring Moro rebels through diplomatic means.
Sporadic skirmishes and intermittent gunfire are still heard near the two villages as of posting. (PNA)
