PNP: Land dispute spurred MILF conflict in Maguindanao del Sur; deaths now 17

Land dispute sparked the conflict between the two groups of supposed members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.

In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said the groups of "Commander Sultan" and "Commander Latip" were fighting over 45 hectares of land.

"Ang pinag-ugatan nitong away na ito ay matagal na pong awayan sa lupa… Matagal na raw po ito. Taon na po itong pinag-aawayan. More or less 45 hectares po ang involved dito," she said.

(The root of this fight is a long-standing feud on the land… It has been going on for a long time. They have been fighting for years. More or less 45 hectares are involved here.)

However, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Rod Orbon on Friday said Sultan claimed that around 280 hectares of land were in dispute.

The PNP could not ascertain the size of the land involved in the conflict due to varying claims from both parties.

Citing information from Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR) chief Police Brigadier General Romeo Mavapaz, Fajardo said 17 people were killed after Sultan's group entered the land occupied by Latip's group on Wednesday.

"Seventeen na po 'yung patay, as of today po. Sixteen po galing sa isang grupo at isa naman doon sa kabilang grupo naman po. It turned out po na pare-parehong miyembro po ng MILF. Although magkalaban, magkaibang grupo po," she said.

(As of today, 17 are dead. Sixteen from one group and one from the other group. It turned out that they were both members of the MILF. Although they are rivals, they are different groups.)

"Pinasok ng kabilang grupo itong lugar na supposedly ay meron doong nakatira itong isang grupo (The other group entered this place that supposedly had a group living there)," she added.

No civilians were reported hurt in the incident and the situation in the area has already returned to normal, according to PROBAR.

Police and Philippine Army personnel are currently monitoring the area.

PROBAR said a more in-depth investigation would be conducted in coordination with MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), Philippine Army, and other concerned agencies to determine the cause of the incident.

GMA News Online has sought comment from MILF Peace Implementing Panel chair Mohagher Iqbal about the incident, but he has yet to provide a statement as of posting time. — VDV/ VAL, GMA Integrated News