7 dead in Maguindanao clan war

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Seven members of two feuding families were killed in a spate of gunfights in Barangay Tuka Maror, Bongo Island in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte on Friday.

Parang Mayor Cahar Ibay told reporters yesterday that the seven were killed in the exchanges of gunfire on Friday between the Aragasi and Usman clans, which are locked in a deadly “rido“ war that first erupted on Sept. 4.

Col. Christopher Panapan, directorate staff for intelligence of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), echoed Ibay’s statement, adding that both families are identified with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Ibay said they are trying their best to amicably settle the rido, a clan war, between the two groups.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, PRO-BAR director, said he has directed the Maguindanao del Norte provincial police office and Parang town police to help Ibay in reconciling the two feuding clans.