3 die as MNLF, MILF forces clash in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 21): 3 die as MNLF, MILF forces clash in North Cotabato

Armed clashes erupted Thursday in remote villages here that left two Moro rebels and a village watchman killed, an Army officer said.

Rival forces of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) clashed in the villages of Tungon and Tupig, both in Carmen town in North Cotabato, according to Capt. Antonio Bulao.

Bulao, speaking for the 602nd Army brigade based here, said the armed clashes were triggered by a long standing family feud that was re-ignited Thursday noon and dislocated dozens of peasant families.

Bulao said involved in the “rido” (family feud) were the groups of Commander Karim of the 110th Base Command of the MILF, and combined members of a community militia and MNLF forces led by Commander Minanimbong.

Bulao said the two groups are locked in an armed conflict over control of vast track of lands in the villages of Barangays Tonganon and Tupig, both in Carmen, North Cotabato.

Muslim residents rely on rice and corn farming as main sources of income.

“The harvest has improved with the new irrigation system in place courtesy of the government aimed at improving the lives of residents,” Bulao said of the two villages.

"They do not fight each other during off harvest season," he added.

Bulao said the hostilities erupted at about 3 p.m. Thursday when Karim and his men, along with a certain Commander Tarzan, blocked a farm-to-market road connecting the two barangays.

It prevented farmers from selling their harvests to the municipal market. As a solution, they sought help from local village watchmen and Commander Minanimbong.

Bulao said the Tarzan-Karim tandem blocked the road after farmers refused their demands for “zakat” or obligatory donations to the revolutionary movement in the area.

MNLF forces in Tunganon and Tupig joined forces with members of the barangay tanods and attempted to drive the two groups that triggered a running firefight.

Bulao said the remains of slain village watchman were still in an area controlled by MILF forces. Those killed were not identified.

Von Al Haq, speaking for the MILF, said the armed wing of the rebel movement has sent emissary to Commanders Karim and Tarzan to relay the message of MILF chief Al Haj Murad “to cease and desist” from attacking the other group.

“We have efforts to settle the armed conflict and it is in progress,” Al Haq said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=618525