2 die, 3 hurt when Moro warring clans clash in Pikit

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 3): 2 die, 3 hurt when Moro warring clans clash in Pikit

PIKIT, North Cotabato - Two persons were killed and three were wounded when firefight between two Muslim clans erupted in interior villages of this town Sunday, police said. Peaceful efforts are underway to settle the misunderstanding which police described as "rido" (family feud). Senior Insp. Elias Dandan, police chief of Pikit town in North Cotabato, said efforts are underway to settle the dispute peacefully. “It was a long time dispute over political boundaries between families in Langayen and Dungguan, both in Pikit,” Dandan said.

 Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division, said involved in the dispute were Commander Kuyo of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 105th Base Command and Tayuan family. He identified the wounded as Kanapia Musa, 42, Eric Pasandalan, 19 and Kamir Pasandalan, 23, all followers of Commander Kuyo. The two fatalities from the side of Tayuan family remained unidentified. Asto said on Sunday dawn, followers of Commander Kuyo harassed the village of Langayen where the Tayuan family resides. The Tayuan family retaliated and engaged the attackers in a two-hour firefight that left two killed on Tayuan side.

Asto said the conflict was triggered by the killing last month of Commander Kuyo’s younger brother whom the MILF field official blamed on the Tayuan family. Dandan and Asto said both sides are claiming ownership of a large patch of lands in the borders of Barangays Dungguan and Langayen. Dandan said the local government of Pikit has set a settlement meeting between warring groups who both expressed willingness to show up to end bloodshed. At least 30 families who are related to the warring groups have fled to safer grounds.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=476515