COTABATO CITY – About a hundred soldiers, backed by Simba armoured personnel carriers, were deployed in the coastal villages of Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao del Norte province following clashes between armed men that left one dead and three injured before dawn Thursday.
The clashes also sent hundreds of families to safer grounds to ensure safety and avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
Lt. Colonel Roden Orbon, speaking for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the soldiers were deployed to ensure the safety of civilians.
“The safety of civilians, especially women and children, are our priorities,” Orbon said in a radio interview.
Hostilities erupted on Wednesday night and continued until dawn Thursday in the adjoining villages of Mompong, Linek, Badak, and Kusiong, all in Datu Odin Sinsuat.
The fatality was identified as a certain Saidali Mantawil.
Soldiers and police officers put up checkpoints to prevent the conflict from escalating, while allowing local officials and traditional Muslim leaders to facilitate peace negotiations between the warring families.
About 300 displaced families are now housed at the Sarilika Village National High School in Barangay Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat.
On Thursday, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament member Dr. Susana Anayatin filed a resolution before the regional legislative body urging the police and military authorities to ensure the safety of civilians in Barangay Kusiong.
She said most of the displaced families were peaceful settlers whose livelihood have been affected by the conflict.
Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua has condemned the atrocities perpetrated by armed groups who are yet to be officially identified.
“I call upon individuals involved in this incident to cease the hostilities immediately. Conflict and misunderstanding can be resolved through dialogue and peaceful negotiation, not by escalating violence,” he said in a statement. (PNA)
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