MILF factions clash in Maguindanao del Sur; 3 dead, 3 hurt
COTABATO CITY – Three Moro fighters were killed and three others were wounded after warring Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) factions clashed in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur, police said Monday.
SHARIFF Saydona Mustapha municipal compound. (Wikipedia)
The encounter on Sunday morning involved the groups of commanders Malibuteng and Kagui Adam from the MILF 128th and MILF 118th Base Commands, respectively, Police Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said.
“The two groups are locked in a long-standing family feud, locally known as ‘rido,’” Ventura said, adding that they are still figuring out what triggered the latest round of fighting.
Ventura said the group of Malibuteng was traveling on the national highway in Barangay Linantangan in three minivans when they were ambushed by followers of Kagui Adam around 9 a.m.
Police identified the slain followers of Malibuteng as Ares, Alimasing, and Obama.
Three followers of Kagui Adam were injured, while a stray bullet wounded a civilian.
The two-hour clash ended when government forces supported by armored personnel carriers equipped with .50-caliber machine guns arrived.
Police investigators found more than 100 empty shells from various calibers in the ambush site in Barangay Linantangan, a residential area. (PNA)