2 dead as armed groups clash in Maguindanao del Sur

Two persons were killed following an encounter between two armed groups in Pandag, Maguindanao del Sur, the Philippine Army reported Saturday.

According to the report, the incident happened at about 12:15 a.m., when an armed group sympathetic to the chairman of Barangay Lower Dilag, clashed against the group of a certain Morsid Mamalinta.

The firefight lasted for one hour and 30 minutes.

A team of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade then proceeded to the site of the encounter  around 12:25 a.m.

The Philippine Army reported that upon the troops' arrival, they were also fired upon by the armed groups, leading them to retaliate in the direction of the hostile elements.

A firefight took place between the responding troops and the armed groups.

Army troops immediately conducted coordination with the local authorities, and additional forces were placed on standby for possible reinforcement.

No casualties have been reported on the government side, according to the Army.

However, at around past 10 a.m., one platoon from the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade encountered more or less 15 fully armed men in Barangay Pandag. This resulted in a 20-minute firefight.

The Army identified the fatality as Emran Mamalinta, a candidate for municipal councilor, and a still unidentified person. One person was injured and seven were captured.

Recovered were the following:

•Three M16 rifles
•Two Garand rifles
•One M653 rifle with M203 grenade launcher
•Five M16 magazines
•One 7.62mm magazine
•Three 40mm grenades
•77 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition
•11 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition
•Two bandoliers

Clearing and security operations are continuously being conducted in the area, as well as the pursuit operations against the alleged armed groups.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said it is also conducting a thorough investigation of the incident.

"Initial findings confirm that while personnel of Pandag Municipal Police Station assigned at the polling center of Upper Dilag reported that there was gunfire that transpired in Lower Dilag, upon the response of government troops found that the said area was directly attacked by unidentified armed men," it said in a statement.

According to the police report, personnel of the Pandag Municipal Police Station, together with personnel of the 21st mechanized company, Philippine Army, onboard four armored personnel carriers and KM-450s, went to the area to normalize the situation and conduct a hot pursuit operation.

A team of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company was also dispatched by the Maguindanao Del Sur Provincial Police Office to assist forces on the ground and alerted the Quick Response Team of the 43rd Special Action Company, PNP Special Action Force.

Police personnel had also coordinated with the PDRRMO to assess the situation of affected civilians, as well as with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)'s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (MILF-CCCH) focal person.

"The public was assured that personnel of this PPO remain in their positions, especially at the polling center supported by the Quick Response Team deployed in every municipality from the PNP, AFP, and other agencies to ensure the safety, security, and integrity of the upcoming MNLE 2025 in the province," the PNP said.

"We also urge the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that may cause public confusion and request the cooperation of the authorities for any suspicious act for immediate police action," it added. — VBL, GMA Integrated News