MILF MADNESS: Two Islamist rebels shot dead during “friendly” basketball game

MILF Madness
Bloodshed followed after two groups of MILF fighters decided to enjoy a friendly game of basketball, with a small cash prize for the winners

MILF MADNESS: A “friendly” basketball match between members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front ended with two militants dead and one injured.

The bloodshed occurred after a player open fired when he was fouled during the game in North Cotabato on Thursday (September 7).

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Chief Inspector Romy Castanares, police chief of Pikit town, confirmed the killings.

He identified the dead players as Ismael Muhamadali, aged 34 and Mamaila Udlayan, 32, both of Barangay Gokotan, Pikit. A man identified only as Ali Jamel was injured.

All of them were members of the MILF under Commander Karim Dubua, who is also known as “Midnight.”

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The suspects in the shooting have been named as Macabuat Tambungalan and Manguda Tambungalan. The two, believed to be brothers, are MILF members serving under a commander known only as ‘Masibpal’. Macabuat Tambungalan was also injured in the incident.

MILF madness unfolds

The MILF fighters had decided to play a game of basketball with pot money laid down for the winners.

However, the game soon turned excessively ‘physical’. At this stage, one of the Tambungalan brothers took up his rifle and opened fire.

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Friends and relatives of the slain MILF members retaliated, triggering a gun battle between the two sides.

Mustapha A Aliman, the chairman of the local barangay [village] described the incident to police investigators. He said: “There was misunderstanding that turned into a heated argument until they took up arms.”

Chf. Insp. Castanares said “MILF elders” had intervened to pacify warring members of the rebel group and stop any further loss of life.

Meanwhile, residents of Pikit town has expressed concern that if the incident is not settled to everyone’s satisfaction it could start a “rido” or clan war.

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