3 dead, 4 wounded in Maguindanao del Sur ambush

COTABATO CITY, Philippines —Three members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were killed while four others were wounded in an ambush by a rival MILF faction in Barangay Linantangan in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday.

According to officers of the Bangsamoro region and Maguindanao police offices, the attack caused panic among barangay residents and students of an Islamic school near the area where the two groups traded shots.

Town officials said one faction is led by Commander Malimbuteng and Zainudin Kairo, who both belong to the 128th MILF Base Command, while the other was headed by Kagui Gani Adam, Esmail Salim and Tuhami Mamulintao of the MILF’s 118th Base Command.

Initial investigation showed that Malimbuteng and Kairo were in a convoy of three minivans on their way to Barangay Pembalkan in nearby Mamasapano when they were ambushed.

Three passengers died while four others were wounded in the attack, according to town officials.

Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran and Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division have sent emissaries to help local executives in Shariff Saydona Mustapha and MILF leaders in repositioning the two groups away from each other.