Weapons from warring Muslim clans in Southern Philippines.
COTABATO CITY – Thousands
of villagers have fled their homes in Mindanao following deadly clashes between
two warring commanders of the Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group Moro
Islamic Liberation Front.
At least 2 people
were reported killed and many more wounded in sporadic fighting that began over
the weekend in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province. The commanders
of the MILF’s 105th and 118th Base Command and their
clans are locked in bitter feud and control over a large area of lands being
claimed by both sides.
The military could
not provide details of the clashes and it was unclear why it failed to prevent
the skirmishes between the two armed groups. The MILF also failed to control
its commanders. The governor of Maguindanao, Esmael Mangudadatu, remains silent
over the breakdown of peace and order in the town.
The clashes coincided
with the senate hearing on the MILF-proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law that will
govern an expanded Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines if approved
by Congress and passed the plebiscite. The MILF signed an interim peace deal
with Manila in 2014.
The violence erupted
while the army managed to patch up a clan war involving Vice Mayor Jafar
Dipatuan of Bacolod-Kalawi and Mayor Al Fatah Pacalna Balindong of Tugaya, both
of Lanao del Sur province. Both families engaged in deadly fighting over the
past decade.
Clan leaders also
surrendered high-powered firearms, including two .50-caliber Barrett sniper
rifles, six M14 rifles; seven M16 rifles; four M203 grenade launchers; three
M79 grenade launchers, one .30-caliber rifle and a Browning automatic rifle, according
to Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command. (Mindanao
Examiner)
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