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The affected families, mostly Maguindanaons, fled nearby Barangay Lepaga on July 18, for fear of getting caught in the crossfire by two warring clans in the area.
Chairman Roy Casipe said the evacuees abandoned their respective homes in Gaunan when armed men believed to be members of the Pananggulong clan attacked their village, killing Magundala Mangco and wounding Bimbo Mangco. The attackers were allegedly led by a certain Bhutto Alonto, accordingly a member of the Pananggulong clan.
Casipe said the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Mlang gave rice assistance to the evacuees during their stay in the village hall for almost three weeks.
Mayor Piñol assured residents of Barangay Gaunan of additional security forces to avoid similar incident to happen again in their area.
Additional rice assistance and canned goods were also given by the MSWD to the evacuees.
Pinol went to Barangay Gaunan bringing with him dump trucks to bring the evacuees back to their homes.
“Indi bi sila magpa-uli kon indi ko sila pag idul-ong sa ila nga mga panimalay,” (They don’t want to go home if I don’t personally escort them to their respective homes,) Mayor Piñol said.
Mayor Piñol said the Pananggulong and Mangco clans had been at odds since 1990s because of land conflict.
The Pananggulongs, he said, accused the Mangco family of occupying their land in Barangay Dungus. (MindaNews)