Hostilities erupt anew in Matalam

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 16): Hostilities erupt anew in Matalam

A suspected member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was killed after his group encountered a band of armed men that resulted to a firefight at a remote village in Matalam, North Cotabato.

Authorities said the incident took place some 1.5 kilometers away from the Pikit-Matalam national highway at around 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

Chief Inspector Elias Coloma, Matalam police station chief, identified the slain rebel as Mentato Galangan, 27, of Sitio Mateo in Barangay Manubuan, Matalam.

Galangan was hit in the various parts of his body that led to his instantaneous death.

The firefight lasted for 15 minutes, reports from Matalam police station said.

Coloma said the killing took place after armed hostilities between the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels erupted anew on Sunday.

Galangan, records showed, was a member of the group under Commander Oscar Matiagal of the MILF’s 7th Brigade of the 108th Base Command located in Barangay Manubuan, while the armed group they encountered belonged to Commander Mano Sandab of the 15th Council of the MNLF.

The combined forces also monitored the national highway that connects the villages of Manubuan and Patadon in Matalam town to ensure the safety of the affected residents, and the motorists plying the route.

Coloma said they are also closely monitoring the movements of both armed groups in the area.

http://www.mb.com.ph/hostilities-erupt-anew-in-matalam/