MILF, MNLF clash anew in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 21): MILF, MNLF clash anew in North Cotabato

Rival Moro rebels on Sunday clashed in a remote village in Kidapawan City sending several families to temporarily leave their homes, the military here said.

Capt. Antonio Bulao, speaking for the 602nd Infantry Brigade, said the fighting which lasted for about an hour was between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

No casualty was reported on both sides, Bulao said of the 8:00 a.m. skirmishes which happened about a kilometer from portions of the national highway in Barangay Patadon, Kidapawan City.

Bulao said Sunday's armed confrontation between the two groups was still part of the conflict involving the same groups in nearby Matalam town, also in North Cotabato.

He said at about 5:00 a.m., the Army's 57th Infantry Battalion learned about the massing of about 100 MILF forces near Barangay Patadon where the MNLF and their families were about to harvest corn and other crops.

Bulao also said that the MNLF first learned of the planned harassment by MILF. So the MNLF sent its armed followers in the village of Patadon.

The MILF forces withdraw after former congressman Jimmy Matalam appealed to Commander Noah Sabel of the MILF 108th base command.

The MNLF forces are already considered part of the government after its leaders signed a peace deal with the government in 1996 while the MILF is still negotiating peace with Manila.

Last May, MILF and MNLF forces clashed in Barangay Marbel, Matalam, North Cotabato over land dispute.

Bulao said the conflict in Matalam, which is now escalated to Kidapawan interior villages, was not an organization conflict but more of a land dispute involving Moro families who have ties with the revolutionary movement.

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