2 men dead, another hurt in clan flight

Saturday, August 6, 2011

TWO men died while another was wounded in an armed battle between two warring families in Maguindanao on Thursday afternoon.

Police identified the fatalities as Niko Makauma and Kamad Sauma, while the wounded was one PO2 Nasser Pangamutan.

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Based on reports gathered from the Maguindanao Police Provincial Office (MPPO), the families of Makauma and Pangamutan crossed paths in Barangay Nuyo, Buldon around 2 p.m.

Separate encounters of the two warring families, who have long been embroiled in a land dispute, lasted for three hours with both groups using high caliber weapons.

The exchange of gunfire stopped upon the arrival of Muslim leaders, local officials and representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Ceasefire Committee.

Military and police troops have been added in Buldon to protect the residents in the area.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu has ordered a group to resolve the dispute between the two warring clans.