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3 dead, 9 wounded in clan war in S. Philippines

15 February 2012 04:44 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least three people were killed and nine others were wounded in the ongoing clash between two warring village chieftains in the southern Philippines, a military official said Wednesday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The clan war involves a land dispute between Duma Ugayan and Jerry Macalay, village chairmen of Malipodok and Baital, respectively, in Rajah Buayan town, Maguindanao province. The fighting started Sunday and displaced thousands of residents.

The latest fighting occurred on Wednesday at around 02:00 a.m. local time when the group of Ugayan staged an attack on the position of his rival, according to Army Col. Prudencio Asto, public affairs chief of the 6th Division.

He said the skirmishes left three dead and nine wounded from both sides. The number of evacuees also rose from 2,000 to 2,800 families. They’re now staying in public school buildings and a mosque near the town hall.

"It’s a land dispute and we are working out to pacify them," councilor Zamsamin Ampatuan said.

Clan war is common in the southern Philippines and sometimes the hostilities could last for decades until a peace pact is reached by protagonists, usually through mediation by religious leaders or the payment of blood money.