Cops ask MILF to settle 'infighting' among its members in N. Cotabato village

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 29): Cops ask MILF to settle 'infighting' among its members in N. Cotabato village

PIKIT, North Cotabato -- Police have asked the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders to convince its men to put an end to their fighting in interior villages here, which sent residents to flee their homes on Friday.

About 100 families have fled to safer grounds when armed men started engaging in a firefight in the village of Kabasalan.

As of Friday night, the tension has slowed down but residents still refuse to return home.

Chief Inspector Donald Cabigas, Pikit town police chief, said involved in the clashes were families of Kedtag and Buaya, both belonging to the MILF 118th base command and MILF National Guards unit.

"This is a long standing rido (family feud) involving MILF leaders," Cabigas said. "They quarrel over ownership of a vast farmlands in Barangay Kabasalan."

No casualty was reported as of posting.

Cabigas said local Muslim officials were trying to resolve the conflict with the help of Muslim religious leaders of Pikit.

The military's 602nd Brigade, which has jurisdiction over Pikit and neighboring towns in North Cotabato, has asked the joint government-MILF ceasefire committee to help defuse the tension.

The local government of Pikit has already extended emergency aid to the affected families who fled to nearby villages.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/983613