2 MNLF factions figure in Maguindanao clash

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Two warring factions of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that pitted candidates for local positions in Maguindanao clashed yesterday morning, hours after suspected partisans blasted a fragmentation grenade at a barangay hall in a coastal town in the first district.

Senior Inspector Gabudan, chief of the North Upi municipal police, said the hostilities involving the feuding MNLF groups scared villagers at the borders of Barangays Ganassi and Lamod, in North and South Upi, respectively.

There were no reports of casualties, but the encounter sent dozens of villagers running for their lives.

Local officials said the MNLF group from Barangay Lamod, an interior district in South Upi, which is identified with the town’s vice mayor, Baba Omar, provoked the skirmishes by roaming in Barangay Ganassi with guns, scaring people that supported his rivals during the May 13 polls.

Omar, an MNLF commander, lost his bid for mayor of South Upi.

Gabudan said no one was reported killed or wounded in the shootout, but the incident caused panic among the villagers.

Preceding the incident was the grenade attack by suspected followers of a defeated candidate at a  barangay hall in Parang town in the first district of Maguindanao.

According to witnesses, one of two motorcycle-riding men hurled a grenade at the barangay hall and sped away as the explosive went off.

Parang re-elected mayor Ibrahim Ibay ordered the police to identify and arrest the bombers.