Lutayan village chair, 4 others hurt in MILF attack

KORONADAL CITY - Five persons, including avillage chairand village councilman, were wounded when clashes erupted between local village officials and Moro rebels in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat province, officials said today.But fighting have settled down after military personnel and members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) intervened, according to Lutayan Vice Mayor Ibrahim Macasayon. Normalcy has been restored, Macasayon told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal of the incident in Barnagay Bayasong, Lutayan town.Macasayon said the armed conflict, involving Barangay Bayasong Chairperson Falcon Bansil and Commander Tige Guiamandin of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), erupted at dawn Wednesday when Commander Pege's men attack the village of Bayasong.The Lutayan police office identified the wounded victims asBayasong Barangay Chairman Falcon Bansil, Barangay Kagawad Botchoy Galando, Salakib Norodin, Doren Manunutok, both members of Barangay Police Action Team (BPAT) and an unidentified civilians.The attackers, MILF forces belonging to 109th base command and based in nearby Buluan, Maguindanao,stormed the barangay hall before sunrise Wendesday but members of BPAT and Chairperson Bansil engaged the attackers in an hour-long firefight.Macasayon said the attackers fled when government forces and members of the Lutayan PNP arrived at past 7 a.m.It was not known whether or notthe group of Commander Tige also suffered casualties.Soldiers and police officers have been deployed in the village to prevent the resumption of hostilities.