Maguindanao clash death toll climbs to 14

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll in the fighting between a rebel group and a Muslim clan in Maguindanao has climbed to 14, a military spokesman said today.

Colonel Prudencio Asto, spokesman for the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, said 10 members of Governor Esmael Mangudadatu's clan and four followers of Tautin Salendab, commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) 109th Base Command, have been killed in the ongoing gun battle in Maguindanao.

On Sunday, eight people were killed, including relatives of Mangudadatu, while four other civilians were injured when gunmen allegedly led by Salendab fired at the victims, who were inspecting a project.

Mangudadatu said he received information citing Salendab, who was opposing the road project, was behind the ambush.

"They want to stop the construction of that road," Mangudadatu said in a television interview, adding that the road project was located near the camp of Salendab's group.

Eid Kabalu, spokesman of the MILF confirmed to philstar.com in a phone interview that members of the 109th Base Command were involved in the attack. He, however, clarified that the relatives of Mangudadatu were not killed in an ambush, but in an armed encounter.

Kabalu said that the two groups have been fighting in the recent weeks. He said that the local government and the rebel group have been mediating for the warring groups’ reconciliation.

Kabalu had also said that authorities should refrain from blaming the MILF leadership for the clash.

"This is another violation. They are just pointing anybody without conducting investigation. It's unfair," he said.

Meanwhile, Kabalu said that separate task forces have been formed by the provincial government and the MILF in connection with the incident. He said the two groups have already met in Davao to address the issue.

Asto said that soldiers have been ordered to stay away from the warring groups' fighting.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said that the fighting has something to do with land dispute between two warring clans.

Senior Superintendent Marcelo Pintac, police chief of Maguindanao, said an investigation was still being conducted.

In November 2009, more than two dozen members and political supporters of the Mangudadatu clan were killed together with at least 32 journalists by alleged members of the Ampatuan family. The Mangudadatus and the Ampatuans are political rivals. (Xinhua and philstar.com)