Army sends peacekeepers after Moro clans clash in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 7): Army sends peacekeepers after Moro clans clash in North Cotabato

Government forces were deployed in the borders of this town and Pikit, both in North Cotabato after rival armed group clashed Thursday leaving two persons wounded, authorities said.

Several families were also displaced as armed Moro factions clashed over control of huge track of lands.

A high school student named Anwar Esmael and Rafani Sahban, a member of government militia, sustained bullet injuries in the clash. Village officials rushed them to the hospital in nearby Midsayap town.

Police said the victims were trapped in the middle of shooting war Thursday night between the group of local Commanders Nasser and Kuyo and that of the local militia in Barangay Langayen, Aleosan and Barangay Dunguan, Pikit, both in North Cotabato.

SPO4 Herberto Paculanang, deputy chief of the Aleosan PNP, said soldiers belonging to the 7th Infantry Battalion and 40th Infantry Battalion were deployed to serve as peacekeepers in the village of Dungguan.

Pikit local officials were trying to convince warring Moro clans to settle their dispute amicably.

Paculanang said the clashes were triggered by long standing land dispute involving village officials and an armed group affiliated with Moro rebel groups.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front which is talking peace with the Philippine admitted that family feud or "rido" was one of the threats to the Mindanao peace process.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=532112