PH Army helps end feud between warring clans in Cotabato City

Military authorities have intervened in a local clan war that has disrupted peace and order in the city since last week, an Army official on Monday said.

Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), said he invited Bimbo Ayunan Pasawiran, chairman of Barangay Kalanganan Mother, Cotabato City, and Ustadz Abusaima Hussain, commander of the 128th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF), to Camp Siongco, the 6ID headquarters in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, over the weekend to resolve their differences.

Bunayog urged the warring clans to peacefully resolve their misunderstanding while warning them of military action if they continue exchanging bullets, which have displaced several families in Barangay Kalanganan Mother of the city.

Both Pasawiran and Hussain agreed to support the military-initiated cessation of hostilities involving them and their followers.

The meeting also led to the creation of a probe team, led by Cotabato City Police Director Col. Jibin Bongcayao, to determine what triggered the exchange of fire that sent civilians fleeing from their homes.

“Both parties issued a commitment to honor the understandings reached and to work toward ending hostilities in the area,” Bunayog said in a statement.

The exchange of gunfire occurred days after the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections on Sept. 14.

Army and Marines were deployed in the area following the initial exchange of gunfire on Sept. 28. For the next three nights, Philippine Air Force helicopters have been conducting aerial patrols over Cotabato City.

Nobody was reported injured or killed in the warring clans’ trading of bullets and M-79 projectile grenades.

Bunayog said 6ID troops will continue regular patrols and security operations in Barangay Kalanganan, a coastal village of Cotabato City with a population of about 18,900.

“We do not want to see another exchange of fire in Kalanganan that could put our people’s lives and safety at risk,” Bunayog said, warning both sides to behave.

He noted that the 6ID will employ all lawful measures within its mandate to protect the community and maintain peace and order in the command’s area of responsibility.

“The law applies equally to everyone, and we will not hesitate to enforce it against anyone who violates the rule of law or undermines the peace process. Our objective is to prevent further deaths, protect civilians and foster dialogue for a peaceful resolution,” he said.

-Philippine News Agency