MADALUM, Philippines, 22 April — Tension remained high in this southern town yesterday, a day after army soldiers clashed with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters in an apparent case of “misencounter.”
Five more deaths were reported as a result of the clash, raising the number of fatalities to nine, local officials said.
Of those killed, six were MILF fighters, including four under a Commander Zainoden Langkowa and two under a Commander Nasser Angni. The rest were soldiers headed by a Captain Sarip of the Philippine Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion.
The army and MILF suffered one wounded each.
As reported earlier by the MILF, their fighters led by Langkowa and Angni were on their way to Madalum propert to help mediate a rido or clan war when they encountered the army soldiers.
The MILF forces were based in their Bilal base in the mountains of Munai town in Lanao del Norte.
The “misencounter” report was reinforced by Representative Jun Macarambon, who said it was he who requested the army’s presence in Madalum to help pacify the warring families in the locality, who were both his relatives.
Madalum is the hometown of the congressman’s mother.
On the other hand, the MILF fighters were reportedly asked by town Mayor Pinamili Sarangani to also come and help keep the peace.
The MILF said it was unfortunate that there was no proper coordination among the local officials, the military and MILF commanders concerned.
Following the clash, the military yesterday sent additional reinforcements backed by tanks and 105 mm howitzers to Madalum and nearby towns.
Macarambon issued an appeal to both sides to refrain from further escalating of the conflict.
After all, he said, both the military and MILF forces have the noble intention to become part of the efforts to clean up the area from violent incidents brought about by a family war. The MILF and government forces have been observing a cease-fire since August last year after President Gloria Arroyo ordered government forces to return to the peace table.
