abs-cbn live streaming-Maguindanao clash death toll climbs to 14

Maguindanao clash death toll climbs to 14
(The Philippine Star) Updated April 04, 2011 11:52 AM Comments (2) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll in the fighting between a rebel group and a Muslim clan in Maguindanao has climbed to 14, a military spokesman said today.

Colonel Prudencio Asto, spokesman for the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, said 10 members of Governor Esmael Mangudadatu's clan and four followers of Tautin Salendab, commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) 109th Base Command, have been killed in the ongoing gun battle in Maguindanao.

On Sunday, eight people were killed, including relatives of Mangudadatu, while four other civilians were injured when gunmen allegedly led by Salendab fired at the victims, who were inspecting a project.

Mangudadatu said he received information citing Salendab, who was opposing the road project, was behind the ambush.

"They want to stop the construction of that road," Mangudadatu said in a television interview, adding that the road project was located near the camp of Salendab's group.

Eid Kabalu, spokesman of the MILF confirmed to philstar.com in a phone interview that members of the 109th Base Command were involved in the attack. He, however, clarified that the relatives of Mangudadatu were not killed in an ambush, but in an armed encounter.

Kabalu said that the two groups have been fighting in the recent weeks. He said that the local government and the rebel group have been mediating for the warring groups’ reconciliation.

Kabalu had also said that authorities should refrain from blaming the MILF leadership for the clash.