ZAMBOANGA CITY–The military has deployed “reasonable number of troops” to maintain peace and prevent escalation of violence in the town of Maimbung, Sulu.
The deployment came after fighting erupted between two warring political groups, namely, of Maimbung Vice Mayor Mudjasan Pando and Imal Matarul, the brother of Municipal Councilor Abubakar Tan, said the Joint Task Force Sulu in its initial report released Monday.
Two people were killed and 10 others were injured during the firefight, which broke out around 7 p.m. Friday in Barangay Bualo Lipid, Maimbung, the task force said. The two fatalities included a brother and a cousin of Pando.
Three of the 10 injured were members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the remaining seven were civilians.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander and Senior Supt. Pablo Lara II, Sulu police director, and other lower unit commanders proceeded to Maimbung to pacify the situation upon receiving the report. The officials conferred with the leaders of the warring sides to ease the tension, the military said.
Joint military and police patrol base have been established “right at the center of the affected community” to “restore normalcy in the area,” Sobejana said.
“Normal na (ang situation). Nilagyan ko ng reasonable number of troops (The situation has normalized. I deployed reasonable number of troops),” Sobejana added.
He said the residents were advised to stay home and remain calm. (PNA)
