Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, October 19, 2024 — Seven individuals were killed in a series of violent incidents involving rival Moro groups in Barangay Tuka Maror, Bongo Island, on Friday, October 18, 2024.
The conflict erupted between the Aragasi and Usman clans, both allegedly associated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The two families have been locked in a political feud and territorial dispute, leading to a deadly “rido” (clan war) that first broke out on September 4, claiming four lives and displacing numerous residents. The most recent clashes resulted in seven more deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 11.
Parang Mayor Cahar Ibay, along with Col. Christopher Panapan of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, confirmed the fatalities. Both local leaders expressed efforts to mediate between the warring families through the Parang Municipal Peace and Order Council, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to avoid further bloodshed.
Barangay Tuka Maror, located on the coast of Bongo Island, has been a hotspot of tensions due to the clans’ fight for control of key territories. With the area being a political stronghold of Mayor Ibay, he has intensified efforts to prevent the violence from spreading, as the region prepares for the upcoming local elections.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the Parang Municipal Police have recommended establishing a joint police-military detachment in the area to prevent further clashes.
Simultaneous Armed Encounter with Lawless Elements
In a separate incident on the same day, government troops engaged in a firefight with suspected lawless elements at the waters surrounding Bongo Island. Lt. Gen. William Gonzales of the Western Mindanao Command confirmed that troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 and the 65th Force Reconnaissance Company encountered a group of armed individuals aboard 12 motorized boats while conducting a maritime security patrol.
The gunfight resulted in the deaths of seven lawless elements, with three bodies recovered while the other four reportedly sank and were lost at sea. One soldier was wounded in the encounter and was immediately brought to Camp Siongco Station Hospital for treatment.
Recovered from the lawless elements were several rounds of ammunition, an M60 light machine gun, and other weapons. The military continues its pursuit operations, aiming to apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.
Authorities have heightened security measures in the area to prevent further violence as tensions remain high across the region.
