MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (UPDATE) – An ongoing encounter is taking place at Barangay Ganta, in the town of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao between the group of Commander Adzmie of the 106th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Commander Abu-adzam of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Based on the report received by ABS-CBN, an ambush incident transpired at Sitio Patawali, at Brgy. Ganta, wherein the group of Commander Mhads Sambolawab of the 106th Base Command was ambushed by commanders of the BIFF, the group of former 105th base commander of MILF, Ustadz Ameril Umbrakato.

However, Maguindanao Provincial Police Director Senior Superintendent Marcelo Pintac said they could not yet identify if it was an ambush or a face-to-face encounter as of this time.

The firefight erupted yesterday morning that resulted in the displacement of 700 individuals temporarily seeking refuge in Ganta Elementary School, local police said.

Meantime, Abumissry Mama, spokesperson of the BIFF said the group of Commander Adzmie initiated the firefight wherein they fired upon the house of Commander Abu-adzam in Brgy. Ganta yesterday morning. However, this was denied by the 106th Base Command.

The firefight between the group of Commander Adzmie of the MILF and the BIFF erupted last month due to a land conflict that resulted in the displacement of hundreds of families in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

Based on the report from Police Regional Office Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (PRO-ARMM), 4 were killed from both sides, 2 were wounded on the MILF side and 6 were wounded on the side of the BIFF. However, this was denied by both groups.

As of posting time, he authorities were still monitoring the situation and could not easily barge into the place, as it is an MILF- controlled area.