7 dead as 2 MILF factions clash

SULTAN KUDARAT, Philippines  – Seven guerrillas were killed after two factions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) engaged in a series of shootouts in Palimbang town culminating on Saturday.

An MILF band under Commander Andih and another under Commander Binago started shooting at one another on Friday in Barangay Napnapan, according to Palimbang police chief Romeo Calamba.

Hostilities erupted when Andih and his men attacked the band of Binago in Barangay Napnapan to avenge the killing of a follower of Andih by gunmen identified with Binago, according to local officials. 

Andih had accused one of Binago’s men of being behind the killing of Conggo Kalil, according to  sources from the Marines based in Sultan Kudarat’s adjoining Palimbang, Lebak and Kalamansig towns.

Seven guerrillas from the two MILF bands were killed in the shootout on Saturday and some 3,000 residents were forced to evacuate to safer areas, according to local officials, among them senior members of the Palimbang municipal peace and order council.

The 1st Marine Brigade, which has jurisdiction over Palimbang and neighboring towns, urged the government-MILF ceasefire committee to resolve the conflict to prevent the dislocation of more residents.