MANILA, Philippines - Four members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were killed and 7 others injured in a clash between warring commanders of the rebel group in a remote barangay in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao province, the military said Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Jao, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, said nearly 3,500 families have been displaced by the clashes in Barangay New Liong.

Jao said that those involved in the clashes are Commander Adzmie and Commander Abunawas of the MILF’s 106th and 104th Base Command.

Jao said that the encounter between the 2 MILF groups stopped only after the military launched non-lethal smoke bombs and artillery fire.

He said they were also forced to dispatch 2 fighter planes to prevent the violence from spreading to nearby barangays.

The military spokesman said that they will be forced to directly intervene if the MILF leadership fails to pacify the 2 rebel groups.

MILF chief peace negotiator, Mohagher Iqbal, has protested the military's intervention into the conflict between the 2 MILF groups.

"It's a violation of our ceasefire. Even if our men were fighting each other, it does not justify the military's involvement," Iqbal said, adding that they have already filed a protest before the joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.

The military, however, clarified that they were only trying to protect the displaced civilians.

"We're not operating against them, we're only monitoring the developments and helping the displaced people," said Major General Anthony Alcantara, the most senior army commander in central Mindanao region. -- with reports from Noel Alamar, radio dzMM and Reuters