Ten people were reportedly killed yesterday while scores were wounded in fresh clashes between two warring families in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur. But Col. Luisito Marcelino, deputy brigade commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, said they are yet to confirm whether or not there were casualties in the fierce gun battle between the allied Kibad and Balt families and the allied Papandayan and Dimaporo families. The firefight reportedly broke out yesterday morning when at least 200 supporters of the Papandayan- Dimaporo families started burning the houses in Barangay Masibay. The ensuing gunfight reportedly resulted in undetermined casualties on the side of the attackers, seven of them were confirmed killed by a local official who asked for anonymity for security reasons. Upon hearing of the incident, fighters from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) immediately proceeded to the area in order to protect the civilians who were caught in the gunfight.
The feud between the Kibad-Balt families and Papandayan-Dimaporo families dated back January last year when at least 12 people from the side of the former were allegedly killed by Marine elements after they were mistook as Abu Sayyaf members. The Kibad-Balt families then accused the Papandayan-Dimaporo families as behind the massacre, prompting them to retaliate the following month wherein they killed 12 from the side of the latter and wounded several others. Sporadic clashes between the supporters of the warring families for the rest of the month. "Along the way and until yesterday's fierce fighting, a dozen more from both clans have died in the attack and counter-attacks. This is already too much. The government must stop this madness here," the local official said in a phone interview. "We are now appealing to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) not to side with any of the warring groups so as not to drag the MILF into the conflict and instead conduct swift actions to prevent further bloodshed," the local leader added. As of press time, the firefight between the two forces is still on-going, prompting the local military officials to deploy troops to prevent further bloodsheds.