The firefight between members of the Galib and Asaron clans forced residents to flee to Sitio Mangis in Barangay Magsagao, Panglima Sugala town, 332 kilometers south of this port city, Maj. Gamal Hayudini, information chief of the Armed Forces Southern Command, said.
The hostilities erupted after the armed followers of Bidin Galib swooped down on the village of Mangis.
Hayudini said Galib and two of his followers were killed in the gunbattle.
Wounded were another Galib follower, and two from the Asaron clan — Amir Asaron and his elder brother Eron.
Marines and policemen rushed to Panglima Sugala and helped pacify the warring clans. Efforts are underway to amicably settle their dispute to avert more bloodshed.