Friday, December 5, 2014

MILF infighting reported in Maguindanao, mediation ongoing

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 5): MILF infighting reported in Maguindanao, mediation ongoing

Two warring groups belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had been fighting each other the past few days over land dispute in Maguindanao’s Datu Abdullah Sangki town, officials said today.

To avert bloody and major confrontation, the local government of Abdullah Sangki has appealed to MILF leadership to interfere.

The warring groups, one led by Zacaria Guma and the other under Datu Item, have been trading bullets since Wednesday, forcing civilians to vacate their hoems to safer grounds.

Military sources the hostilities escalated when two other guerilla commanders of the MILF’s 105th and 106th Base Commands joined in the conflict.

Commander Tony is identified with Guma’s group while Commander Rex is a supporter of Datu Item, a relative of former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Jr.

“We are trying to pacify the warring group but the MILF leadership could pacify it effectively because they are its people, we can only appeal,” Datu Abdullah Sangki town councillor Anwar Emblawa.

The municipal peace and order council has aleady appealed to the central committee of the MILF to reposition its forces away from populated areas in Datu Abdullah Sangki town.

Emblawa, citing information from village officials, said a woman was hit by stray bullets during the exchange of gun fire Thursday.

He said the warring groups have been locked in land dispute.

Von Al Haq, MILF’s military official, said an emissary had been sent to negotiate with the warring groups.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=712996

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