ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 05 Jan) -- Military and rebel forces scrambled to protect hundreds of civilians trapped in fierce gun battle between two feuding Muslim clans in Lanao del Sur province in the southern Philippines.
Military officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties on both the warring groups, but the fighting was triggered by a long time feud between the Tambugao and Masigay clans in the town of Tubaran in Lanao del Sur province.
"We are trying to control the situation here. We have sent troops to protect the civilians," said Marine Brig. Gen. Mohammad bin Dolorfino, deputy chief of the Southern Command.
Military officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties on both the warring groups, but the fighting was triggered by a long time feud between the Tambugao and Masigay clans in the town of Tubaran in Lanao del Sur province.
"We are trying to control the situation here. We have sent troops to protect the civilians," said Marine Brig. Gen. Mohammad bin Dolorfino, deputy chief of the Southern Command.
Dolorfino said the fighting broke out in the village of Vurivid and that soldiers were sent to the area to arrest the protagonists.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) also sent soldiers in the town to defuse the tense situation and save the villagers, Eid Kabalu, a rebel spokesman, said.
"Our forces are in the area and protecting those trapped in places where the fighting erupted. We are closely coordinating with authorities to prevent any misencounter between rebels and soldiers," he said.
Kabalu said the rebels sent to the town were all unarmed.
The military said the fighting erupted late Wednesday and continued the next day. Hundreds of gunmen attacked each other with machine guns and heavy weapons and television reports said at least 7 protagonists had been killed in the clashes.
"We have not yet received any reports of casualties and we are awaiting reports from our commanders in the area," said Lt. Col. Luisito Marcelino, deputy commander of the 1st Marine Brigade in the province.
He said the fighting was triggered by a clash between armed followers of the two clans last month where several people were killed and wounded.
But Kabalu said the fighting was connected to the killing in October of Malabang town police chief Corias Tambugao and five of his companions.
"The fighting is connected to the killing of the police chief Corias Tambugao. His relatives attacked the members of the Masigay clan on suspicion they were behind the killing of the police chief," he said.
Tambugao's group was returning to Malabang from Tubaran town onboard a car when 20 gunmen opened fire and killing them all.
Police initially tagged bandits as behind the attack. Lanao del Sur is one of five province under the Muslim autonomous region.
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