COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Intense clashes between warring groups in Nabalawag, a town within the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), have left five people dead and displaced over 20,000 residents.
The violence, which escalated on March 6, involves the group of Nabalawag Mayor Datu Renz Tukuran and an armed faction led by a “Commander Kutay.” According to local officials, the fighting was triggered by an attack on the Mayor’s residence. Among the fatalities were two armed combatants and three civilians—including two students—who were caught in the crossfire.
Approximately 4,892 families from the villages of Damatulan, Kadigasan, Olandang, and Kurandangan have fled to evacuation centers. The instability has also forced the suspension of classes in eight local schools. While the military reported that the situation has since calmed, the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade has remained on high alert, recovering 13 firearms and deploying additional troops to prevent further skirmishes.
In response to the recurring violence, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division is implementing the “Special Conflict Mediation and Reconciliation Framework.” This new approach aims to address the deep-seated causes of community-based disputes rather than relying on temporary ceasefires. Maj. Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara noted that the strategy, which involves collaboration between the security sector and local government units, has successfully resolved similar clan conflicts in other parts of Maguindanao.
The timing of the clashes is particularly significant as the region nears the 12th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, a peace treaty intended to end decades of large-scale conflict in Mindanao.