A ceasefire has been successfully brokered between two armed groups following several days of tension and sporadic gunfire in Barangay Linantangan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur, bringing temporary relief to residents displaced by the violence.
Local authorities confirmed that the exchange of gunfire between the forces of Commander H. Gani and Commander Zainudin Kiyaro officially stopped on March 1, 2026, after mediators intervened to prevent further escalation. The clashes reportedly began on February 27 and were rooted in a long-standing conflict between the two groups, which had previously led to armed confrontations in the area.
The situation intensified again on the night prior to the ceasefire when the rival groups reportedly clashed once more in Barangay Linantangan, raising fears among residents and prompting urgent intervention from regional peace and security officials.
The truce was facilitated through coordinated efforts by the Peace, Security and Reconciliation Office under the Office of the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, working alongside the ceasefire mechanisms of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The mediation was led by Abusaima Husain and supported by Task Force Ittihad, the Barangay Local Government Unit, the Shariff Saydona Mustapha Municipal Police Station, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
During the dialogue, both sides agreed to remain within their respective areas and refrain from actions that could reignite hostilities. The agreement aims not only to halt the fighting but also to allow civilians who fled during the clashes to safely return to their homes.
Officials involved in the mediation emphasized that maintaining the ceasefire will be critical to stabilizing the community, which has been on edge since the conflict erupted days earlier. Residents in nearby sitios and puroks reportedly sought temporary shelter in safer areas as gunfire echoed across the barangay during the clashes.
Authorities said they will continue monitoring the situation on the ground to ensure both parties adhere to the agreement and to prevent further violence in the municipality, which has experienced intermittent tensions linked to local armed groups and unresolved disputes.
Peace facilitators also reiterated the importance of sustained dialogue and community cooperation to avoid another outbreak of violence, stressing that the ceasefire is only the first step toward a longer-term resolution of the conflict.