Kato commander killed in clash with MILF rebels

MANILA, Philippines - One of the commanders of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) headed by Ameril Umbra Kato was reportedly killed in an encounter triggered by “rido’’ or clan war with fighters of the mainstream Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in a remote village in Maguindanao last Friday afternoon, the military said.

Maj. Harold Cabunoc, Army spokesman, said the slain BIFM leader, a certain Commander Mutin, was among the MILF leaders who sided with Kato when the former renegade commander of the MILF’s 105th Base Command broke ties with the MILF Central Committee as he refused to continue the peace talks with the government.

Cabunoc said Mutin and his armed followers clashed with the fighters of the MILF’s 118th Base Command led by Commander Fahad in Barangay Elian, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

“Sporadic gunshots were heard in the area. Mutin was reportedly killed in the fighting,’’ Cabunoc said.

He added that the two Muslim groups clashed to settle their long-standing conflicts.

Recently, similar encounters between warring factions occurred in MILF-influenced communities due to unresolved land disputes.

Government forces are barred from entering MILF communities to contain the fighting as part of the ceasefire agreement.

Cabunoc said local officials and policemen in the area are now investigating the latest incident.