Rebel factions clash over territory

From the Manila Standard Today (Dec 18): Rebel factions clash over territory

LOCAL Army brigade commanders and leaders of some 200 fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front have agreed to disengage after negotiations in Midsayap, North Cotabato amid reports that Moro rebel factions clashed over land ownership in the same town.

Reports said that the firefight erupted after Moro Islamic Liberation Front elements tried to occupy an MNLF territory in Midsayap.

There were no immediate reports of casualties between the two factions following a brief skirmish in Brangay Balabag, in Midsayap at 9 a.m.

The military said, however, that they have not monitored the supposed clashes, except for the incident on the alleged killing of a village official in the same town.

But MNLF Commander Samsudin said the fighting started after MILF forces invaded a 200-hectare land in a hilly portion of a mountain barangay in Midsayap, which he said is owned by the MNLF.

“They (MILF) intruded into the 200 hectare land territory of the MNLF without any coordination with us,” Samsudin.

Samsudin said the MILF group led by a certain Commander Morsid, alias Naga, occupied the property for a supposed ‘project’.

After a brief encounter, Samsudin said he asked Commander Morsid to vacate the property since it is not their property. He added that he even wrote a letter to the MILF side in an effort to resolve the issue and prevent further bloodshed.

“There will be a meeting among leaders of both parties to include representatives from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to discuss what is right and proper,” Samsudin said.

As to whether politics could be behind the MILF attempt to invade the 200 hectare land, Samsudin simply said that “we would like just to preserve peace and tranquility in our areas of concern.”

Recently, the MILF also intruded in MNLF communities in Marbel, North Cotabato, which triggered a skirmish that left at least three persons dead.

Capt. Antonio Bulao, spokesman of the army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade in an interview said that although they have not monitored the alleged clashes, they still set up checkpoints along the highway boundaries in the towns of Midsayap, Pikit, and Aleosan to deter possible conflict.

“What we know is that armed men supposedly belonging to the MNLF are tracking down the killer of Kasanudin Guialal, a village official in Datu Piang believed to have been killed by the group of Brgy. Captain Peng Kulilong of Tugal village, who were with some Civilian Volunteer Organization members,” Bulao said.

Army spokesman Capt. Anthony Bacus, meanwhile, allayed the fears of the residents following reports that at least 200 MILF fighters had massed up in Midsayap.

“The Philippine Army would like to allay the fears of the residents following reports that 200 Moro National Liberation Front fighters are massing up in the area. Colonel Allan Arrojado, commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, has already talked with the identified leaders of the MNLF. Together with other stakeholders, they had reached an agreement for the group to disengage and leave the area,” Army spokesman Capt. Anthony Bacus said.

Citing a report from Capt. Bulao, Bacus said the MNLF fighters did not plan to engage government forces.

“The MNLF fighters led by three commanders were looking for relatives of a village chief who were purportedly involved in the killing of a village elder in Datu Piang, Maguindanao. The situation was resolved peacefully, with the members of the MNLF agreeing to leave,” Bacus said.

He added, however, that the military will remain vigilant and closely monitor the situation.

The military said the MNLF fighters were not members of the faction of Nurjulani “Nur” Misuari who was served a warrant of arrest for rebellion and crimes against humanity in relation with the International Humanitarian Law ((IHL) over the September Zamboanga City siege.

The siege had displaced more than 100,000 residents from several barangays. At least 10,000 houses were also razed to the ground. As this developed, MNLF spokesman Absalom Cerveza slammed Malacanang’s attempt to persuade the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to replace its founding chairman Nur Misuari as the sole representative of the Bangsamoro people.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/12/18/rebel-factions-clash-over-territory-/