COTABATO CITY, Philippines โ Police and soldiers seized 11 military-grade firearms, including an M60 machine gun, from members of two rival Moro groups following clashes in a newly created Bangsamoro town in Cotabato province, authorities said Friday, as efforts continue to peacefully settle the dispute.
Officials of the Police Regional OfficeโBangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) and the Armyโs 6th Infantry Division (6ID) said the weapons were confiscated after gunmen loyal to Abdultayan Sandigan and Esmail Tayuan figured in repeated firefights on Wednesday in the adjoining villages of Olandang and Kudarangan in Nabalawag.
The clashes forced residents to flee their homes.
Recovered from the two camps were an M60 machine gun, five 5.56-mm M16 rifles, two 5.56-mm M4 rifles, two 7.62-mm M14 rifles, and a .30 caliber M1 Garand rifle, according to Brigadier General Ricky Bunayog, commander of the Armyโs 602nd Infantry Brigade, and Colonel George Bagundol Jr., provincial police director of Maguindanao del Norte.
Authorities said the rival factions have political disputes. They are competing for control of strategic areas in the two barangays.
Nabalawag is among eight Moro-majority towns that form part of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Although administratively under BARMM, these towns are geographically located within Cotabato province in Region 12.
Major General Jose Vladimir Cagara, commander of the 6ID, said he has directed field commanders to coordinate with PRO-BAR in helping reconcile the two leaders using traditional Moro conflict resolution mechanisms.
PRO-BAR director Brigadier General Jaysen De Guzman said they have sent emissaries to both camps to encourage Sandigan and Tayuan to amicably settle their โrido,โ or clan war.
Authorities said security operations remain in place to prevent further violence while parallel peace-building efforts are underway to restore normalcy in the affected communities.
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