Maguindanao villagers urge authorities to neutralize mayor's brother following clash on Sunday

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 19): Maguindanao villagers urge authorities to neutralize mayor's brother following clash on Sunday

Residents of remote villages in a Maguindanao town have urged military and police authorities to end hostilities that have already displaced more than 100 families by serving the warrants of arrest for the brother of Mayor Otto Montawal of Datu Montawal municipality. Andy Montawal, wanted for a series of crimes, including rape of a university student in nearby Kabacan town in North Cotabato, clashed anew with another armed group in Datu Montawal town on Sunday, displacing more locals, authorities said. Andy, who maintains an armed group, is locked in a long standing family feud with another armed group affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by Commander Bingkug. Sunday’s skirmish was the eight since October. An infant was killed by a stray bullet in one of the skirmishes last month when Andy’s followers traded bullets with the followers of Commander Bingkug. According to police and military reports, the conflict between Andy and Bingkug started when one of the rebel leader’s relatives was allegedly killed by Andy’s men in nearby Kabacan town. Colonel Benjamin Hao, chief of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion said efforts are continuing to settle the conflict. Hao said a peaceful settlement is one option but there are other options being considered by the military and the police. “I have talked to Mayor Montawal who promised to help convince his brother to face the bar of justice,” Hao said in a radio interview. Reports reaching the police and military said Andy and his men are frequently seen roaming in the towns of Tunggol and Talapas brandishing high-powered fire arms. Acting Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has ordered the ARMM police to act decisively on the series of skirmishes and atrocities in Montawal.

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