MATALAM, Cotabato (October 31, 2025) — Fear gripped residents of Barangay Estado, Matalam, as renewed fighting broke out Thursday morning between unidentified armed men and security forces near the boundary of Matalam and Barangay Malinan, Kidapawan City, forcing 14 families to flee their homes.
According to reports, heavy gunfire erupted in Sitio Tuburan, Purok 6 — a community located right along the boundary between Barangay Estado and Malinan — where armed men were reportedly spotted taking positions.
The evacuees have sought temporary shelter in safer areas of Barangay Estado. Immediate assistance was provided by former Matalam Vice Mayor Ralp Ryan Rafael and Barangay Councilor Pepito, who helped transport and accommodate the displaced families.
The latest tension follows months of sporadic clashes tied to a long-standing land dispute in Barangay Malinan. Just earlier this month, around 170 families were displaced from the same area due to similar armed encounters.
Authorities said the conflict involves more than a hundred armed men occupying portions of a disputed 150-hectare farmland in Malinan. Negotiations led by the Kidapawan City Government, local police, and soldiers from the 72nd and 40th Infantry Battalions are ongoing to defuse the situation.
Kidapawan City Police Chief Lt. Col. Jose Marie Simangan earlier confirmed that the group, represented by a certain Commander Abdullah Imbong, has refused to withdraw unless a formal dialogue on the land issue takes place.
Investigations reveal that the conflict stems from overlapping land ownership claims — one from a prominent family who said the property has been in their possession since the 1950s, and another from newer title holders who claim legal ownership.
Authorities clarified that the armed group has no known ties to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The case has been elevated to the Cotabato Provincial Government for further mediation and resolution.
Meanwhile, local officials in Matalam and Kidapawan are closely monitoring the situation as residents fear the violence could spill over into nearby communities if the standoff persists.