MILF commander killed in Maguindanao del Sur

A ranking commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was killed by unidentified gunmen in Rajah Buayan town, Maguindanao del Sur on Monday morning.

Commander Buntok Utap of the MILF's 106th Base Command was shot dead while eating at a roadside eatery in Panadtaban village.

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. near Dansalan Elementary School.

A civilian woman was wounded by a stray bullet during the attack.

Utap had recently reconciled with a rival, Barangay Chairman Norodin Utto Jr., through the intervention of the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade and the 33rd Infantry Battalion.

This reconciliation followed previous violent conflicts between their groups, which had displaced hundreds of residents.

The killing took place while officials were discussing ways to address clan wars in the province.