9 killed as MILF-Cafgu fighting flares in Maguindanao

Eight government militiamen and one Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighter were killed in a clash in the outskirts of Maguindanao in Central Mindanao over the weekend, a delayed report over Luwaran, the MILF rebels' official website, said Monday.

The report said undetermined number of MILF forces and Civilian Army Geographical Armed Forces (CAFGU) engaged in an intense firefight in the villages of Tapikan and Lepok, Datu Unsay town late Sunday afternoon.

It said the firefight ceased after the attackers, who were aided actively by Army soldiers, sustained heavy casualties forcing them to withdraw at nightfall.

According to the source, the MILF hierarchy is encountering great difficulty in disengaging the two-armed groups due to the recalcitrance of some politicians in Maguindanao.

A joint team of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the MILF and Government ceasefire committees rushed to the encounter site to defuse the situation and effect an immediate disengagement, another report said.

But renewed fighting between the same groups has flared up again shortly before noon Monday and extended late afternoon. There were no reports of casualties on both sides, according to the source.

Also early last week, similar incident took place in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao, where two MILF fighters were reportedly killed.

Presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said he already sent Undersecretary Mon Santos to investigate the Maguindanao skirmishes. “The incident would not affect the peace process.”

Col. Gerry Jalandoni, chief of the Army's 604th Brigade, denied reports that the clash is between Army troopers and the MILF. He said the conflict is involving two MILF factions led by commanders Abdulsalam Wahid and Datu Item Ampatuan.

”The conflict stemmed from a land dispute worsened by a long-standing family feud,” he said.

Peace talks between the government and the MILF is set to resume on Feb. 6-7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to thresh out remaining issues on ancestral domain before both parties proceed to discuss the final agenda of the talks. (ZS)