THE Army’s (PA) 101st Infantry Brigade based in Basilan clarified on Tuesday that the ongoing incident in Tipo-Tipo town is rido-related violence between ‘local parties,’ not a siege as previously reported online.
Brig. Gen. Fredrick Sales, brigade commander, did not identify the individuals and families involved in the atrocities, only mentioning members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BpatT) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as the warring groups.
The fighting broke out around 7:00 a.m. Tuesday in barangay Poblacion, Tipo-Tipo, a day after tensions gripped the town.
However, in a joint statement released on Tuesday, the Basilan provincial government, military, MILF and the Council of Elders stated that the incident is directly linked to the killing of Nadzri Tarahin, an Islamic teacher and village councilor of Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, on October 21.
Sales said the provincial government and peace partners are actively working to de-escalate tensions and restore order.
Reports indicate that Tarahin’s followers are seeking revenge and have allegedly identified those responsible for the barangay official’s death. Tarahin was shot and killed at a bus terminal in barangay Malinis, Lamitan City, Basilan.
‘The presence of military personnel in the area is part of our mandate to preserve peace, maintain order, and uphold the rule of law,’ Sales said in a statement.
‘Our forces are closely coordinating with the National Police [PNP], local governments, [LGU] and community leaders to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of civilians,’ he added.
He urged everyone to remain calm and continue supporting the peace process, emphasizing that the gains achieved through years of cooperation and dialogue must not be undermined by isolated incidents of violence.
Earlier on Tuesday, the military, police and local leaders, including MILF representatives, signed a joint statement of commitment with the provincial government, reaffirming their ‘collective resolve to de-escalate the situation, promote dialogue, and ensure the safety and security of all residents.’
Meanwhile, the PA spokesperson, Col. Louie Dema-ala, confirmed that ‘an incident occurred earlier today in the municipality of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.’ He said they are still verifying the details of what transpired and coordinating with concerned units on the ground to obtain a complete and accurate report.
‘We assure the public that the PA is on top of the situation. Our troops have been deployed to secure the area and ensure the safety of the residents. Close coordination is also being maintained with the local government unit and other security agencies to restore normalcy and address the needs of the affected communities,’