COTABATO, Philippines – Philippine police said Monday (March 26th) they had arrested Ipeh Ampatuan, a wanted member of the Muslim Ampatuan clan, in connection with the nation's worst-ever political massacre.

He was among 100 fugitive suspects believed responsible for the carnage in which 57 people were shot dead in the southern province of Maguindanao in 2009.

Ampatuan was believed to be escaping to marshland near Cotabato when the boat he was on exploded, wounding him and several others and killing one.

Provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Marcelo Pintac said a Marine unit had been requested to protect the hospital where the suspect was being treated, according to AFP.

The 2009 attack is believed to have been orchestrated by Ipeh's grandfather, who is also in custody.

In related news, two people were killed and about 270 families were forced to flee as members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) battled fighters from the older Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Saturday.

MILF spokesman Von al-Haq said the fight was a personal feud and was not part of a larger battle between the groups.