CAMP SIONGCO—Clashes involving armed men in Pagalungan, Maguindanao erupted early Thursday and left three persons injured and massive evacuation.
Police Senior Inspector Blayn Lomas-e, Pagalungan town police chief, said the armed hostilities erupted around 5:30 a.m. in the village of Damalasak between the armed group led by Edzing Daguiaman and Makakena Kasim.
Lomas-e said the motive of the skirmishes remain unknown to date and investigation has been ongoing.
Due to the clashes, hundreds of civilians left their homes and proceeded to the town center in Barangay Poblacion.
Initial reports showed that Kasim and Daguiaman have been locked in a long-standing land dispute.
Soldiers and policemen have been deployed near the village to separate warring armed men.
Lomas-e could not say if the warring groups were supporters of political candidates in the coming election.
Pagalungan is one of the areas considered by police, military and election officials as “area of immediate concern” relative to the coming elections.
The village is also known as area of coverage of Moro Islamic Liberation Front which entered into a peace deal with Manila.
Lomas-e could not say if some MILF members or other lawless elements are involved in the conflict.
Efforts are ongoing to settle what appeared to be a “rido” or clan war.
The three injured persons belong to one of the warring groups. They were rushed to the hospital in nearby Pikit town in North Cotabato.