Deadly Escalation: 1 Killed, 2 Injured as MILF-Armed Group Clash Displaces 100 Families in North Cotabato

MATALAM, NORTH COTABATO — A long-standing land dispute erupted into deadly violence on Wednesday afternoon, July 29, 2026, leaving one civilian dead, two others wounded, and forcing approximately 100 families to flee their homes in terror.

The fierce encounter took place in Barangay Estado, a remote village in the town of Matalam, North Cotabato.

According to Second Lieutenant Jewel Mae Bureros, Acting Civil Military Operations Officer of the 40th Infantry Battalion (40IB), the heavy exchange of gunfire broke out at approximately 1:40 PM. The firefight involved armed combatants believed to be from the 108th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and a group of armed civilian farmers.

Local sources indicate the clash ignited while the farmers were harvesting coconuts in a contested area. Both sides have historically laid claim to the same parcel of agricultural land, a recurring flashpoint that has previously sparked localized violence during harvest seasons.

Tragically, a local farmer identified as Elmer "Elmer" Viajante was killed after being caught directly in the line of fire. Military reports state that Viajante was simply walking home from his farm in Sitio Esmar when the sudden gunbattle began. Two other civilians sustained severe gunshot wounds during the chaos and were rushed by bystanders to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

The sound of heavy weaponry echoing through the community sparked widespread panic, prompting around 100 families to abandon their homes and livestock to seek safety.

The sudden influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) split into two distinct evacuation zones, with 63 families seeking temporary refuge at the local Barangay Hall of Estado while another 37 families fled across boundary lines to seek shelter at the Barangay Hall of San Roque in neighboring Kidapawan City.

Local government units responded swiftly to the humanitarian crisis. The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Kidapawan City mobilized to distribute hot meals and establish relief protocols, while the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Matalam deployed modular tents and emergency sleeping kits to the displaced families.

Joint elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were immediately deployed to the area to enforce a separation of the warring factions and conduct clearing operations. Authorities confirmed that the active skirmish subsided around 6:00 PM on Wednesday evening, with no further gunshots reported overnight.

While military officials are still investigating exactly which side fired the initial shots, the Matalam Municipal Police Station has launched a deep probe into the identities of the combatants involved. High-level peace panels and MILF ceasefire monitors are expected to intervene to mediate the underlying land dispute and prevent further bloodshed so that the displaced families can safely return to their land.