9 dead, 6 wounded in Cotabato gunfights

ALEOSAN, North Cotabato, Philippines — At least nine persons were killed, including five members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), in a series of encounters Friday in Tapudoc, an interior barangay here.

Aleosan police identified the CAFGU members as Ramel Santillan, Jomar Roben, Jesry Galo and siblings Melvin and Johnrey Cabrera who were ambushed on the way to their outpost.

It also reported that Abdul Khaeer Odin, Zulfikar Taya and Sammy Palao – followers of suspected assailant barangay councilor Odin Khalil – and a still unidentified villager were killed in the clashes. The six injured men were taken to different hospitals.

Community leaders said Khalil and Santillan have been locked since 2016 in a deadly “rido,” a generic term for clan war in the south.