Army, cops deployed in SK town following death of farmer

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 24): Army, cops deployed in SK town following death of farmer

Police and military authorities have been deployed in a remote village of Sultan Kudarat province following a shooting incident that sent people fleeing Saturday.

Soldiers from the Army Special Forces Battalion and policemen backed by militiamen were deployed in the village of Maindang, Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat after a farmer belonging to a huge clan was shot dead.

Senior Inspector Melvin Balba, Lutayan PNP police chief, said Oscar Gayak, a farmer, was shot dead right in his own home by the suspect later identified as Carali Mama, also a farmer.

Both belonged to Muslim clans identified with Moro rebel groups.

Quoting a police report, Balba said Mama armed with a hand gun arrived at Gayak’s house at about 4 p.m. and the two had a conversation.

Minutes later a guns shot was heard followed by Mama fleeing hurriedly.

Balba said the two had been locked in a long standing family feud locally known as “rido.”

Afraid relatives of Gayak would retaliate, several families have left the village and moved toward the town center to avoid getting trapped should warring clans clash.

Balba said the government forces will only serve as peacekeepers to prevent the escalation of the armed conflict.

Lutayan is about 40 kilometers north of Tacurong City.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=676277