1 dead, 5 others injured in Muslim feud

COTABATO CITY , Philippines — A graduating high school student was killed while five members of another family were injured in the crossfire between two heavily armed Muslim groups at the border of Datu Piang town in Maguindanao del Sur and Nabalawag town in the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area in Cotabato.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region police said Nadia Haron was hit by a stray bullet in the head while she and her family were preparing to evacuate to a safer place.

Their house is reportedly located in the middle of the place where the feuding groups began exchanging shots on Tuesday in Barangay Damatulan, Nabalawag.

In nearby Barangay Duaminanga in Datu Piang, community leaders brought to a hospital five members of the Asim family, who were hit by stray bullets and grenade fragments.

The two rival groups, armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers, are reportedly squabbling for control of strategic tracts of land.

The rift widened after the group leaders supported rival candidates during the May 2025 elections.