HEAVY fighting erupted between two warring families in Malabang, Lanao del Sur Friday morning leaving one dead, police said yesterday.

A report from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police Regional Office said the feuding clans exchanged fire using grenade launchers, machine guns and automatic rifles at the vicinity of Barangays Sumbagarogong and Passir in Malabang municipality 12:30 a.m. Friday.

The fighting involved the families of Nasiba Marohom and Junail Cariga, police said. As a result, a member of the Marohom clan identified as Alimatar Marohom, 40, a resident of Bgy. Macao in Balabagan town died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds.

Police said the fighting was triggered by the killing of another member of the Marohom family identified as Ansari Marohom, chairman of Bgy. Chinatown in Malabang last August 15.

Suspected members of the Cariga clan shot to death the village official, said ARMM police director C/Supt. Bienvenido Latag.

Additional troops were sent to the area to help the Malabang Municipal Police Station quell more violence. Troops also recovered an M-14 rifle with three loaded magazines at the scene.   Alfred Dalizon