Wednesday, June 25, 2008 N. Cotabato residents flee amid Moro rebels firefight By Ben O. Tesiorna
TWO warring groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) caused panic and evacuation among residents of Barangay Kibayan in Carmen, North Cotabato.
In a military report, the incident happened around 3 p.m. of June 22.
The warring groups are that of Abdulatip Kadilingan, former barangay chairman of Kibayao, and of MILF commander Ali Galay.
Kadilingan's group is composed of Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVOs) and MILF combatants from Barangay Simone in Kabacan. They reportedly attacked about 70 MILF men who were converging at the residence of Kumander Galay.
Reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that Kadilingan's group were retaliating for the ambush staged by Galay's group last June 20.
The Philippine Army's 602nd Brigade has already coordinated with the local government unit of Carmen to prevent further escalation of the armed conflict and unnecessary loss of lives.
