Gunfight that broke out in Maguindanao del Sur town ends up in a wedding
MAMASAPANO, MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR—What started as a gun battle in this town ended in two families uniting in a marriage of two of their members.
At noon on Friday, firefight broke out in Sitio Szopad, Barangay Sapakan of Mamasapano town, Maguindanao del Sur, when the daughter of an armed Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) member ran away with her 21-year-old boyfriend.
But just as fast as it erupted, the firefight died down as Philippine Army officers mediated and the conflict soon ended in a wedding.
Lt. Col. Roden Orbon, spokesperson for the 6th Infantry Division, said the gun battle was between the group of Sukor Guiamalon, a member of the 106th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the MILF’s armed wing; and the group of Mohamad Tatak, village chair of Sapakan, Mamasapano.
The fighting erupted when Guimalon learned his 15-year-old daughter eloped with the brother of Tatak. But the gunfire initiated by Guiamalon’s group ended at 3 p.m. on Friday when 33rd Infantry Battalion officials intervened, Orbon said.
Both groups agreed to hold the wedding on Saturday, with Mamasapano Mayor Datu Akmad Ampatuan as main sponsor.
