Families flee as tension between armed groups brews in Mamasapano

More than 1,000 families have fled their homes for fear of being caught in the crossfire as tension between armed groups continues in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur.

Around 960 families have taken shelter temporarily at some schools in the town.

According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the conflict between two groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) started on April 2, 2024, and has continued intermittently for more than a month.

“More than 1 month na pero hindi naman siya continuous talaga ang putukan. Minsan, humihinto siya ng one week, babalik na naman ang bakbakan,” MDRRMO-Mamasapano Head, Vincent Cuales, said.

MDRRMO added that the number of families affected has increased to more than a thousand as the tension escalated to neighboring barangays of Libutan and Dasikil, which are now being cordoned by authorities.

The Mamasapano police said the tension erupted after the members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) allegedly ambushed the family of a barangay chairman of Pimbalakan who is a member of the MILF.

“Ang tinitingnan nating motibo is land dispute or political. After nung ambush doon na nag-umpisa ang firefight sa naturang lugar,” Mamasapano Municipal Police Station Chief, Lt. Lou Christian Villones, said.

The tension became more intense as more groups became reportedly involved in the conflict. Accordingly, a group from the MILF has gained support from the BIFF.

“Nagkaroon ng kampihan maybe kapamilya nila ang mga naglalaban which is kinampihan nila hanggang sa dumami na ang nag-reinforce,” Villones added.

Authorities are calling for the MILF groups to stop the fighting as more civilians have been affected.

“Wala tayong pinapanigan na grupo. They violated the law, puwede natin silang kasuhan ng alarm and scandal. We will give sanction we will file case against them,” Villones said.

Authorities are also investigating as to how the groups were able to obtain firearms.

The municipal government and the police have urged the Bangsamoro government to intervene and resolve the ongoing conflict.

Currently, some of the evacuees have started to return to their homes as the tension has reportedly subsided.

Government forces have remained on full alert to secure the communities. —GMA Regional TV