North cotabato: The military has dispatched a significant contingent to the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (SGA-BARMM) in North Cotabato to intervene in a violent conflict between two Moro families. The feud, which has been ongoing since Wednesday, resulted in one casualty.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Col. Erwin Jay Dumaghan, commander of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion (40IB), announced that a company-sized unit is now stationed in the village of Barongis, Ligawasan town in the SGA. The conflict concerns a long-standing territorial dispute between the family of Mackly Adam and Taib Sampulna, a village councilman. The altercation forced about 50 families to evacuate the area for safety.

Military forces, bolstered by armored personnel carriers, were dispatched to the village to safeguard civilians. Despite initial success in halting the hostilities upon arrival, the warring families resumed their conflict shortly after. Both families have ties to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has yet to fully decommission under the existing peace agreement with the government.

Government troops conducted a series of operations, including searching for unexploded ordnance and recovering seven M16 rifles and a hand grenade from the conflict zone. The clash resulted in the death of Jiango Sampulna, a relative of Councilman Sampulna.

Brig. Gen. Ricky P. Bunayog, commander of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, stated that military forces would maintain their presence in the village as long as necessary, encouraging the feuding families to seek a peaceful resolution to their dispute.