By Jim Lloyd Dongiapon
In an effort to maintain the gains made by the peace process between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Bangsamoro government initiated the settling of local “rido,” or clan war, between feuding families in the tri-boundary of Cotabato City, Sultan Mastura, and Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao del Norte.
With the help of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Ahod “Kagi Murad” Ibrahim, the Ayunan-Pasawiran and Subpangan clans, as well as the MILF 105th Base Command, formally ended their “rido” yesterday, November 24, in a ceremony held at Bajau Hall, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City.
As part of their commitment to ending their feud, they signed a peace covenant and vowed to help the authorities achieve long-lasting peace.
BARMM Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua, Minister of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, Minister of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) Hussein Muñoz, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCHH), Sultan Mastura Mayor Doc. Bong Panda and Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao witnessed the “rido” settlement.
Macacua thanked the local government units for their efforts in convincing the three clans to settle their feud and pursue peace.
The clan war reportedly began in 2018, and since then, more than 20 people have been killed on all sides of the conflict.