'Firearm-free' zone declared in Kidapawan barangays to thwart violence

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines --- The city government declared on Monday as “firearm-free” zone the border of two  barangays here to prevent a repeat of recent hostilities between two feuding groups in the area.

The two groups last figured in a showdown after the New Year’s Day, forcing close to 50 families to evacuate to safer areas.

Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, chairman of the city peace and order council, said they have also asked the military to put up detachments between the adjoining Barangays Patadon and Amas to prevent further hostilities between the feuding clans.

Hundreds of villagers were dislocated when armed factions, one identified with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the other supported by the Moro National Liberation Front, figured in gunfights in the area last year.

The feuding groups are squabbling for control of strategic patches of arable lands at the boundary of the adjoining Barangays Patadon and Amas.

Evangelista said the Sangguniang Panglunsod already drafted a resolution asking the military to deploy a peacekeeping contingent between the rival groups.

Last week’s hostilities involved a group led by Satar Manalundong, and several Moro families opposing his presence in the area.

Manalundong and his men have been trying to evict local peasants  from their farms in the disputed areas.

Evangelista said they will ask the joint ceasefire committee of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to intervene and help impose measures to prevent  escalation of hostilities.

The ceasefire committee is composed of representatives from the MILF, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces.