Clan war displaces 150 families

MANILA, Philippines -  At least 150 families were displaced due to an ongoing conflict between rival clans in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguin­danao, the military said yesterday.

Col. Prudencio Asto, spokes­man of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the clash started last Monday morning in Barangay Langgapanen.

He said Gani Saligan, who belongs to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and Tahir Alonto, a member of the Pentagon kidnapping gang, led the rival groups.

Asto said the encounter, blamed on long-time rido or clan war, was still ongoing. There were no reported casualties as of press time.

Asto said intelligence operatives have been ordered to closely monitor the situation.

“(The troops) are coordinating with the local government unit. They are determining where the evacuees fled. They are coordinating with the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development),” Asto said.

Rido has been blamed for violence in Mindanao, including the 2009 massacre in Maguindanao which claimed the lives of 58 people, mostly journalists.