Maguindanao town under state of calamity over clan war

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Sangguniang Bayan of Talitay in Maguindanao has placed the town under a state of calamity in connection with a clan war that displaced hundreds of families.

Members of the municipal disaster risk reduction and management council said 3,493 villagers from Barangays Gadungan and Pageda evacuated their homes for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th Infantry Division commander, urged Moro Islamic Liberation Front and local leaders to help settle the rift between followers of former Talitay mayor Montasir Sabal and the Watamama and Ameril clans on the other side.

The animosity between the two groups erupted when followers of Sabal allegedly shot dead a 16-year-old member of the Watamama family on March 26.