8 die, 8 hurt in poll-related MILF infighting in Maguindanao - Army

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 23): 8 die, 8 hurt in poll-related MILF infighting in Maguindanao - Army

Eight persons were killed and eight others wounded Wednesday morning when two Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) field commanders, who have been keeping a long-standing family feud, clashed in conflict which stemmed from previous elections in the province and the coming barangay polls on Monday.

Capt. Antonio Bulao, speaking for the 602nd Infantry Brigade, said four armed men belonging to MILF Commander Bhuto Sanday alias Commander Bhuto were killed Wednesday dawn in a clash with MILF Commander Mokamad Andoy in Barangay Bagoinged, Pagalungan, Maguindanao. Four other followers of Commander Bhuto were also wounded.

Bulao said the group of Commander Bhuto stormed the village of Bagoinged where Commander Andoy and his men were staying since one of his relative was seeking a village position.

“They arrived at past 12 midnight, firing their guns and strafed several houses then yelling they were looking for Commander Andoy,” Bulao said.

A clash ensued and lasted till the break of dawn, leaving four followers of Commander Bhuto killed and four wounded.

At about 9:00 a.m. on the same day, fighting erupted anew when followers of Commander Bhuto tried to retrieve the remains of their fallen comrades. Armed men belonging to Commander Andoy fired at the retrieving team.

In the two-hour fighting, four of Commander Andoy’s followers were killed and four others were hurt.

At about noon, the fighting slowed down and both groups disengaged.

“We remained neutral, we did not intervene, we just secured the civilians displaced by the armed conflict,” Bulao said.

He said it was election-related. “Few days from now, its election day so armed are in the village to ensure their supporters can vote,” Bulao explained.

“The upcoming village election actually heightened the tension because both sides have candidates for various positions in the village,” Bulao said.

“Actually they are all related, by affinity and by blood,” Bulao said of the warring clans.

He said peacekeeping forces from the Army and Philippine National Police have been deployed to ensure the balloting will push through on Monday.

Bulao said they also informed the MILF leadership to convince their field commanders to refrain from armed confrontation.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=579334