Guns silent now in North Cotabato restive Muslim town

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 23): Guns silent now in North Cotabato restive Muslim town
 
Guns are silent now in a remote village of Mlang, North Cotabato after a localized truce took effect Friday between warring Moro rebels who traded shots in the past.

Mayor Joselito Pinol of Mlang said the infighting among commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front had displaced about 50 families who are also Moro residents.

Pinol said the town's Council of Muslim Elders which was formed to address problems besetting Moro communities had already laid down conditions to prevent followers of Commander Buisan and Commander Kamsa, both of the MILF's 108th command.

"Displaced families can now return to their communities," Pinol said.

He said the conflict stemmed from long standing land dispute involving Muslim leaders who happened to belong to the MILF.

"The infighting is not helping solve the problem," Pinol said even as he warned community leaders to address their problem peacefully.

"Otherwise we will be forced to launch offensives against armed men in Barangay Dungguan," he added.

Noah Sabel, MILF 108th base command, said the MILF leadership had already deployed peacekeeping forces in Dungguan to prevent a repeat of skirmishes.

Sabel said the conflict between Kamsa and Buisan had been settled few months back but their children and other relatives continue the armed conflict to determine who really owned a large parch of land in Barangay Dungguan.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=558212