Armed men attacked Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, says LGU; 1 hurt

One person was reported hurt as the local government of Tipo-Tipo in Basilan said Tuesday morning the municipality is under siege by lawless elements allegedly backed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Joint Task Force Orion commander Major General Leonardo Peña later clarified that MILF was not involved in the attack.

In a Facebook post, the Tipo-Tipo LGU said classes, government work, and economic activities in the area are suspended until further notice due to the incident.

"Tipo-Tipo under siege by lawless elements backed by MILF," the LGU said.

"All classes and government work are cancelled until further notice. Everyone is advised to stay safe, and be vigilant. Pray for Tipo-Tipo," it added.

GMA News Online has sought comment from MILF's Peace Implementing Panel chairperson Mohagher Iqbal, about the matter but he has yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

Tipo-Tipo Mayor Ingatun Istarul said negotiation is being conducted amid the standoff. 

He said he is coordinating with concerned agencies to ensure the safety of the residents. He advised his constituents to remain calm, avoid spreading false information, and follow the instructions of the government. 

“Tiwala po tayo na sa pamamagitan ng maayos na pag-uusap, makakamit natin ang mapayapang solusyon sa sitwasyong ito. Magkaisa tayo at ipagdasal ang kapayapaan at kaligtasan ng bawat isa,” he said.

(Let us trust that through proper dialogue, we can achieve a peaceful solution to this situation. Let us unite and pray for the peace and safety of each other.)

The Philippine Army confirmed that an incident occurred in Tipo-Tipo and that it is verifying the details of what transpired with concerned units on the ground.

"We assure the public that the Philippine Army is on top of the situation. Our troops have been deployed to secure the area and ensure the safety of the residents," Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala said.

"Close coordination is also being maintained with the Local Government Unit (LGU) and other security agencies to restore normalcy and address the needs of the affected communities," he added. 

In a separate statement, Peña said the ongoing incident in Tipo-Tipo is “a rido-related conflict between local groups from nearby barangays.”

Rido or clan wars happen when a person's conviction to uphold and defend the integrity of one's family is violated or denied by another party involved.

Peña said the Basilan provincial government—in coordination with the Basilan Council of Elders, MILF leadership, law enforcement agencies, and security force—is actively implementing measures to de-escalate tensions and restore normalcy in the affected areas.

“The presence of military forces is part of our mandate to preserve peace, maintain order, and ensure the safety of civilians. Our troops are in close coordination with the PNP, LGUs, and local community leaders to prevent further escalation and to support ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts,” Peña said.

“We call on everyone to remain calm and continue supporting the peace process, recognizing that lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding among all stakeholders,” he added.

In a phone interview with reporters, Peña said one person was hurt in the incident and clarified that Tipo-Tipo was not under siege by the MILF.

“Sa ngayon, ang initial report sa akin ay may isa lang na na-wounded na local (As of now, the initial report I received was a local resident was wounded),” he said, while noting that there were no reported casualties on the side of the government troops.

“Baka mamaya ma-highlight na MILF against military. It's not (Some may say later that it was MILF against military. It's not),” he added.

According to Peña, the conflict started when a fight between the locals resulted in the death of an individual, who was a former rebel. The concerned family allegedly wanted to avenge and attack a local barangay captain.

This led to a firefight near the municipal hall.

“Yung location ay malapit doon sa munisipyo, so ang pinaka-primary area na sinecure ng ating pwersa ay yung seat of the municipal government,” Peña said.

(The location was close to the municipality, so the primary area that our forces secured was the seat of the municipal government.)

As of 11:20 a.m., the tension de-escalated after the concerned parties pulled out from the area following negotiations led by elders, according to Peña. — AOL/ VDV/ VAL, GMA Integrated News