1 killed in MILF clash with armed farmers

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A farmer died in a firefight with Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in North Cotabato on Sunday, June 16, over a land dispute that has displaced at least 500 residents.

North Cotabato Gov Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said the clash erupted at around 5 am  in Sitio Barko-barko, Barangay Maybula, Tulunan town, between MILF rebels and members of the government’s civilian defense forces.

Tulunan Mayor Lani Candolada, who was with the governor on Sunday, said that Barko-barko is a “strategic high ground that lies a kilometer southeast of Sitio Malipayon where armed farmers are holding positions against the attacking MILF fighters.”

The slain farmer was identified as Dondon Palomo. 

Col Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the military’s 6th Infantry Division, confirmed that Palomo was a resident in the area and a member of the Barangay Police Auxiliary Team.

Candolada said authorities are also confirming the reported discovery of 3 more dead bodies in Sitio Tuburan in New Bunawan.

Local officials are calling on the national government, particularly Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles and Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, to intervene to help end the conflict.

The government and the MILF have reached a deadlock in the current peace negotiations.

READ: MILF on stalled talks: Frustrated, angry

Von Al-Haq, spokesman of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, said the clash was provoked by members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) and an armed group.

“This morning, members of the Civilian Volunteer Organization, Cafgu and another armed group attacked the MILF unit in the area,” Al-Haq said.

The rebel spokesman explained the tension was caused by an unresolved land dispute. “An unsettled land issue caused this conflict. The mayors of Datu Paglas, Tulunan and Columbio know this,” Al-Haq said.

Double issuance of CLOA

Candolada said the dispute involves the political boundary of 3 towns, including Tulunan in North Cotabato, Datu Paglas in Maguindanao and Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, which were born on the same date during the administration of the late President Carlos Garcia.

The conflict worsened when the municipal agrarian reform officers of two towns issued a Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) for the 1,000-hectare disputed land.

The town of Tulunan issued it in 2008 while Columbio issued its CLOA in 1990.

“So there is also a double issuance of CLOA in the area,” Candolada said.

Tulunan vice mayor and provincial board member-elect Joemar Cerebo said the provincial governments already attempted to settle the dispute. “The members of the technical working group from both Tulunan and Columbio presented their own surveys but the results would not jibe,” Cerebo said.

In 2011, the 3 municipalities crafted a resolution for the creation of a composite team of state security forces to stop the fighting in the area.

But the clashes erupted again after soldiers were removed from the boundary.

Candolada said MILF forces were able to take over the area last May 24 and continued to bombard nearby Sitio Malipayon.

The local government reported that 3 barangays and 6 sitios in North Cotabato are affected by the fighting with at least 560 internally displaced residents.

Several houses were also burned by the rebels, Candolada said.

“Until when will this continue? This day the MILF will [take] position in the land. The next day, the residents will occupy it. And on the day after that, the MILF would again take over,” Candolada said.

The local government said soldiers in the area refused to use their guns to stop the firefight because doing so might harm the peace negotiations with the MILF.

“We really respect the peace negotiation. But we want this to be resolved once and for all,” added Candolada. – Rappler.com