7 die, scores hurt, 500 displaced in MILF Sultan Kudarat infighting

COTABATO CITY — At least seven people were killed as clashes between two groups of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas continued Saturday night in Barangay Napnapan, Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat, officials said.Earlier, hundreds of residents fled the village when members of the 104th MILF Base Command came to the village, ostensibly in search of a suspect in the murder of its member, and an eight-year old boy in nearby Barangay Kanipaan two weeks ago, said Sr. Inspector Romeo Calamba, town police chief.Local officials said the MILF 104th BC force led by Brian Andi clashed with members of the MILF 105th BC under Bonde Binago in Napnapan village, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, according to fleeing residents.Residents said Andi’s group was supposed to arrest” a suspect in the killing last August 2 of Kadil Kongo, a member of the MILF 104th BC. A second fatality in the shooting of Kongo was Niknik Andi, 8, a Grade II pupil, who was an orphan and the subject of a child labor case study, according to local social workers.Maguindanao Sultan Salem Abdulaziz Guiwan Mastura Kudarat V said it was reported to him that close to 500 people have fled Barangay Napnapan, and that he had sent emissaries to help prevent the family feud from further escalating.Binago’s group suffered five fatalities, while two others were killed in the side of Andi’s group, said a report furnished the Inquirer by Datu Muamar Mastura, the sultan’s brother.The report identified two of the fatalities as combatants Mama and Pagal, both followers of Binago. It said more wounded guerrillas were not rushed to nearby hospitals, because each of the clashing groups blocked the way.Retired Police Senior Superintendent Datu Kads Masahod was reaching both sides to negotiate for a ceasefire to start dialogue for a settlement.Masahod, however, clarified that the MILF asan organization was not involved in the conflict, but the conflict was only between individual members.Nash B. Maulana