DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte — Another armed confrontation has erupted in the Bangsamoro region despite the continuing implementation of the Total Gun Ban for the upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections, forcing civilians to flee their homes and leaving a police officer wounded after being struck by a stray bullet.
The latest violence unfolded on the afternoon of Sunday, July 19, in Sitio Blit, Barangay Sibuto, where two rival armed Moro groups engaged in a firefight that sent residents scrambling for safety and disrupted humanitarian operations in the area.
The incident adds to the growing number of armed security incidents recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during the election period, raising fresh concerns over the persistence of heavily armed clan and community conflicts despite intensified security measures.
Police Escort Hit by Stray Bullet
Among those injured was Police Corporal Ar-Rafie Salahuddin, who was serving as part of the police security detail escorting relief workers conducting humanitarian activities in Barangay Sibuto.
According to initial reports from the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station, Corporal Salahuddin was struck by a stray bullet in the thigh after the firefight suddenly erupted while authorities and humanitarian workers were responding to the needs of civilians trapped by the violence.
He was immediately rushed to the Datu Odin Sinsuat Hospital before being transferred to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center for more extensive medical treatment. Authorities said the police officer remains under medical care.
Long-Standing Feud Believed Behind Clash
Initial information gathered by local police and Moro community leaders indicated that the firefight involved the group of an individual identified only as alias “Samsudin” and members of another prominent Moro family in Sitio Blit.
Community leaders said the two factions have reportedly been involved in a long-running conflict that escalated into another exchange of gunfire on Sunday afternoon.
Investigators are now working to identify all individuals involved and prepare the filing of appropriate criminal charges against those responsible.
Hundreds Affected as Residents Flee
The armed confrontation forced residents from Sitio Blit, Sitio Tenuy, and Sitio Badak to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer locations as gunfire echoed across Barangay Sibuto.
In response, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Datu Odin Sinsuat immediately conducted field validation and monitoring operations under the directive of Mayor Abdulmain P. Abas to assess the number of displaced families and determine their urgent humanitarian needs.
Municipal officials, including Councilor Bai Sophia Abas, Councilor Rahib Diocolano, and Councilor Sorab Lumanggal, personally visited the evacuation site to check on displaced families, particularly children, women, senior citizens, and other vulnerable sectors.
Authorities said the local government is closely coordinating with the Barangay Local Government Unit, the Municipal Social Services and Development Office (MSSD), and other concerned agencies to provide immediate assistance and ensure the safety and welfare of those displaced by the fighting.
Public Urged to Avoid Conflict Area
Local authorities continue to advise residents to avoid the affected communities while security operations, monitoring, and damage assessments remain ongoing.
Residents have likewise been urged to remain calm, stay informed through official advisories, and refrain from entering areas where armed hostilities may still pose risks.
Violence Persists Despite Election Security Measures
The latest clash underscores the continuing security challenges confronting the Bangsamoro region even as authorities enforce a region-wide Total Gun Ban intended to prevent election-related violence ahead of the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections.
While the prohibition on firearms seeks to curb armed incidents, recurring clashes involving private armed groups, clan feuds (rido), and rival Moro factions continue to threaten civilian safety and disrupt humanitarian activities.
The wounding of a police officer assigned to protect relief workers further highlights the dangers faced not only by security forces but also by humanitarian responders and innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
Authorities continue their investigation into the incident while security forces remain on heightened alert to prevent further escalation of violence in the area.