MILF infighting displaces civilians in Maguindanao del Sur

COTABATO CITY — Renewed hostilities between competing Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) groups in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, have displaced civilians in the restive municipality, authorities reported Wednesday. The latest outbreak of infighting erupted in the pre-dawn hours in Barangay Bialong, prompting residents to abandon their homes and seek shelter elsewhere. Vice Mayor Hadji Oping Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak confirmed the clashes involved rival MILF members whose territorial and organizational disputes have periodically flared into armed confrontations. The violence marked the resumption of tensions that had simmered in the area, with earlier skirmishes reported in the days preceding Wednesday's escalation. Local officials did not immediately provide casualty figures or an assessment of the damage caused by the renewed clashes. The incident underscores the persistent security challenges facing Maguindanao del Sur, where tribal, clan, and organizational rivalries among armed groups continue to threaten civilian safety and stability in the Muslim-majority province.