One person was killed while two others were injured Sunday as armed men allegedly linked with the Ampatuan clan clashed with supporters of a Maguindanao vice mayor who has turned witness against the powerful political family.
The fighting occurred in Matagabong village in Ampatuan town, the same town where the infamous Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people largely blamed on the Ampatuan clan took place.
Military reports identified the fatality as Dali Iskak, a supporter of Ampatuan Vice Mayor Rasul Sangki. Only one of the two casualties, Saddam Amelik, was identified.
Military officials gave varying information on the incident, particularly on who attacked whom first.
Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang said suspected members of the Ampatuans’ private army led by one Hamsa Kindo alias Tuwabak attacked the group of Sangki led by village chairman Esmael Kla alias Klos.
He said the group was aided by about 30 “rogue" Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels.
"The targets are the people of Sangki so we suspect, they (attackers) are PAGs (private armed groups) close to Ampatuans. Ampatuan town is controlled by Sangki. But the ones attacking there are the private armed groups allied with the Ampatuans. That has been the case always," Cabangbang said.
Cabangbang said Sangki was a “direct participant" in the massacre but has since turned government witness.
Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Benjie Hao, however, said it was Sangki’s group who initiated the attack.
"Our record actually showed that the Sangki group was the one that attacked. That is what the civilians said," he said.
Hao said Sangki’s group initiated the attack after the vice mayor learned that former village chairman Taib Kumayog allowed Kindo, who is a known enemy of Sangki, to visit the village.
“Further, alias Manila Boy and alias Badboy of the Sangki group wanted to intimidate the civilians to evacuate from said barangay so that the perpetrators could harvest the farm products in the area," Hao added.
At least 25 civilians were forced to hide in a concrete warehouse because of the fighting, Hao further said. — KBK/RSJ
