Clans end rido in Buluan

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines  --- Leaders of two more feuding Moro clans on Tuesday swore over the Quran to end their decades-old “rido” that caused the deaths of dozens from both sides in clashes.

The reconciliation rite, held at Buluan town in Maguindanao, was preceded by last month’s reconciliation of five rival ethnic Iranon families from the first district of the province, through the efforts of the inter-agency provincial peace and order council (PPOC).

The Utto and Kabugatan families in Maguindanao’s adjoining Sultan sa Barongis and Rajah Buayan towns agreed to reconcile last Tuesday through the joint intercession of Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, and Brig. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan of the Army's 6th Infantry Division.

Mangudadatu said the local government units of Rajah Buayan and Sultan sa Barongis also helped convince the two families to agree to an amicable settlement of their rido, which means clan war in most Moro dialects.

Elders of both families, who repeatedly figured in bloody gunfights sparked by political differences and squabbles for control of strategic patches of lands in the two adjoining municipalities for many years, signed a peace covenant before a Quran, in the presence of Mangudadatu, Rajah Buayan Vice-Mayor Jonathan Lumenda, and Mayor Ramsondatu Angas of Sultan sa Barongis.  

The covenant, drafted by Mangudadatu and senior members of the PPOC, underscored the commitment of leaders and members of the Utto and Kabugatan families to live in peace again and cooperate in restoring their relationship as blood relatives and as neighbors in the villages that were devastated by past hostilities between them.

Mangudadatu said they stepped up their efforts to persuade both camps to reconcile last week.

Mangudadatu said he is confident the PPOC can settle more clan wars involving big families in the province before the Ramadan's end with the sighting of the new moon possibly on the third week of July.