MNLF, MILF clash in North Cotabato left 1 dead, 3,000 evacuees

From the Philippine News Agency (May 6): MNLF, MILF clash in North Cotabato left 1 dead, 3,000 evacuees

MATALAM, North Cotabato -- A member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was killed during a clash with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters on Sunday night in a remote village here, police said.

About 3,000 individuals from three adjoining villages have fled to safer grounds when both sides, each with 200 fighters, traded bullets until Monday morning.

Chief Inspector Elias Dandan of Matalam police said the firefight was between the forces of Datu Dima Ambel, MNLF chair for North Cotabato, and a certain Commander Manzur of the MILF 108th base command.

Dandan said the MILF was to host a Bangsamoro Framework Agreement information forum in Barangay Marbol, Matalam, North Cotabato, an area also known as the bailiwick of Commander Ambel.

Commander Manzur claimed the MNLF fired the first shot after they took hostage a member of the MILF and disarmed him.

Dandan could not say who fired the first shot between MNLF and MILF forces.

Armed MILF and MNLF forces could see each other but did not fire when policemen, led by Inspector Dandan and backed by police provincial safety company, entered the conflict area to separate the warring groups.

“We serve as peacekeepers here,” Dandan told reporters. “Both the MNLF and MILF have agreed to a temporary cessation of hostilities," he added.

Commander Manzur said the MILF, office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, GPH-MILF peace panels were to conduct Bangsamoro Framework Agreement information drive on Sunday in Barangay Marbol, a known area of Commander Dima Ambel, chair of the MNLF in North Cotabato.

Ambel agreed to the holding of the forum provided the MILF would not bring in firearms.

“However, the MILF brought firearms and many of them are not from the area, that is a violation to our earlier agreement," he said.

But according to Commander Mansur, the armed MILF are native residents of Barangay Marbol and they did not violate any agreement.

At about 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Commander Mansur said the MNLF fired two M-79 grenades, one of which hit the rooftop of his home while the other in the newly paved Marbol highway. Sporadic firefights ensured between MNLF and MILF forces as evidence by dozens of empty shells found at the approach of Marbol Bridge.

No casualty was reported on the MNLF side.

As a result of the firefight, the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement information drive did not push through.

Dandan said the Matalam policemen and provincial police safety company have remained in the middle of MNLF and MILF forces.

Both Moro groups agreed to an informal ceasefire until the International Monitoring Team arrived and arranged a permanent ceasefire.

A source said the MILF wanted to put up a satellite camp in Barangay Marbol which is a known bailiwick of the MNLF. Ambel allegedly did not like the idea of MILF putting up a camp in his territory.

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