Troops recover weapons used in bloody Lanao clan war

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jan 7): Troops recover weapons used in bloody Lanao clan war



Western Mindanao Command releases to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner on Sunday, January 7, 2018 this photo of weapons recovered by troops in Bacolod Kalawi town in Lanao del Sur province, scene of deadly clashes between two warring Muslim clans. 

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine military said it recovered assorted automatic weapons believed used in deadly fighting by warring clans in Lanao del Sur province in southern Philippines, officials announced on Sunday.

Army Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command here, said soldiers who responded to clashes in Madanding village on the town of Bacolod Kalawi on Saturday recovered three M14 rifles; three M16 rifles; two M653 rifles; one caliber .22 rifle; and assorted magazines and ammunition.

There were no reports of arrests, but she said the clashes were between Amanodin and Dipatuan clans who engaged in a firefight that caused temporary disruption to the flow of traffic along the highway. She said troops were also attacked by the warring clans and that the fighting lasted an hour.

“The responding soldiers were fired upon by the unidentified armed men upon their arrival at the encounter site prompting them to fire back. After an hour of fighting, the clash subsided bringing back the flow of traffic to normal,” Petinglay said.

She also quoted Major General Roseller Murillo, commander of the Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) as saying that there were civilian casualties.

“Our soldiers acted immediately since we received reports that there were civilian casualties and many civilians in the area panicked due to the fighting. We would not tolerate any incidents of rido anywhere in our area of operation and we will continue to conduct support to law enforcement operations together with the PNP (Philippine National Police),” Petinglay quoted Murillo as saying.

At least four people from Amanodin clan were killed in the fighting which stemmed from a longtime feud. Petinglay said authorities were investigating the outbreak of violence.

But it was unclear how the warring clan members managed to pass through military and police checkpoints in the town or whether authorities were unaware or failed in their intelligence gathering that could have prevented the fighting.

Petinglay also quoted Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, as saying that the “warring parties will be immediately disarmed and charged in order to prevent the unnecessary loss of innocent lives and strictly observe the rule of law.”

Clan war or locally known as “rido” is not uncommon in the restive region, especially in Muslim areas where many families are locked in bitter feud traced to land and political dispute.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/troops-recover-weapons-used-in-bloody-lanao-clan-war/