Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur — Tragedy struck Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, as the brutal killings of two innocent children and the injury of another have unleashed a wave of violence and mass displacement in the region.
Fierce fighting erupted late night of November 16, at around 11:30 PM, between armed groups in Barangay Pimbalakan and Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, reportedly tied to the Shariff Aguak attack. Protection monitors revealed that the violence has re-ignited a long-standing clan feud, which had previously been resolved through peace efforts spearheaded by local councils and peace mechanisms.
The unrest has forced 1,013 civilians to flee their homes, seeking refuge in neighboring barangays. Many families remain in temporary shelters, awaiting interventions to restore peace and ensure their safe return. “This conflict disrupts livelihoods, threatens lives, and halts socio-economic activities across affected communities,” a protection monitor stated.
The Magungaya Mindanao organization, alongside protection monitors, has strongly recommended the deployment of state security forces as peacekeepers to de-escalate the violence and create conditions for dialogue and resolution. They emphasize that civilian lives and livelihoods must be prioritized to prevent further suffering.
Displaced residents have appealed to both sides to lay down their arms and resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue rather than violence. “Justice cannot be achieved at the barrel of a gun,” one evacuee remarked.
As tensions remain high, urgent action from local authorities and humanitarian aid is critical to address the immediate needs of the displaced and prevent the conflict from escalating further.
