COTABATO — Seven individuals—five confirmed members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and two from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)—were killed in a brutal pre-dawn assault at the boundary of Barangay Malinan, Kidapawan City, and Barangay Estado, Matalam, Cotabato on Monday, November 24, in what authorities and relatives are calling a massacre linked to a long-standing land dispute.
MILF–Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (MILF-AHJAG) Chairman Anwar Alamada, also known as Commander Young Fighter, confirmed that the five MILF fatalities belonged to the 4th Brigade under the 108th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF-MILF), including one brigade commander. The two others who died were identified as members of the MNLF.
The attack occurred around 5:50 a.m., when the group was ambushed without warning as they stayed near a portion of the disputed farmland that has been the site of recurring gunfire and territorial tension in recent months.
Identities of the slain
Authorities identified the victims as:
- Salindato Edris Langalen, alleged MILF commander
- Sammy Baraguir
- Marudin Baraguir
- Nasrudin Baraguir
- Nasrodin Amelil
- Mohaimen Amelil
- Mastura Edris Kusain, who succumbed to his injuries in the hospital
A lone survivor, whose identity is withheld for security reasons, told investigators he could not identify the attackers. Authorities urged him to immediately report if he recognizes any of the assailants.
The group had reportedly settled in the area on August 8 to assert land claims over a portion of farmland long contested by multiple armed groups and local claimants.
MILF condemns attack as ‘savage assault’
In a strongly worded statement, the MILF-AHJAG denounced the killings as a “savage assault” and an “atrocity that must be vehemently condemned in the strongest terms.”
The group called for a transparent investigation, stressing that the murders were a grave affront to peace efforts in the region.
“The cold-blooded killing of respected individuals… calls for swift justice,” the statement said, reiterating that violence only fuels more hatred and endangers the fragile stability in the Kidapawan–Matalam corridor.
MILF also expressed condolences to the bereaved families and vowed to cooperate fully with authorities, including internal reviews within the 108th Base Command.
Land dispute at the center of the conflict
Authorities confirmed that the incident is closely tied to the escalating land conflict between armed groups and local claimants in the Malinan–Estado boundary—an agricultural area covering over 150 hectares planted with corn, sugarcane, and palm oil.
Residents report that for months, armed men have been crossing into farmlands, harvesting crops they did not plant, and seizing livestock and equipment. The November 24 killings follow a string of violent incidents:
- Nov. 24 (morning): 20 families fled Sitio Tuburan after heavy gunfire
- Oct. 31: 14 families displaced by shooting in Estado
- Oct. 14: 124 families evacuated due to clashes in Malinan
Local officials clarified that the armed group involved in earlier tensions—linked to a certain Commander Abdullah Imbong—is not affiliated with the MILF or MNLF.
Displacement and fear grow among civilians
More than 30 families fled Sitio Tuburan on Monday following the killings. Two schools, including Estado Elementary School, suspended classes due to repeated gunfire reported over the past months.
“We’ve lost our harvests, our lands, our animals — and still no decisive action. Until now, kami pa rin ang nangangamba,” a resident said.
Government forces deployed; probe ongoing
Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog of the Army’s 602nd Brigade deployed peacekeeping teams from the 40th Infantry Battalion to stabilize the area. Police units from Cotabato Province, Kidapawan City, and Matalam also responded, alongside MILF leaders and Muslim elders.
Authorities are now working to identify the attackers and establish the full motive of the assault. They urged anyone with information to come forward.
Families demand justice
Grieving relatives insist the victims were “massacred” and had no chance to defend themselves. They are demanding justice as investigators continue to gather evidence.
Muslim elders and peace facilitators are coordinating with police and military units to prevent retaliatory violence.
As investigations deepen, officials and Moro leaders face mounting pressure to stop the cycle of violence and finally resolve the long-standing land dispute that has repeatedly endangered the communities of Kidapawan and Matalam.