CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- While the campaign continues against terrorists in adjacent area, the military in Lanao del Sur also is also resolving clan wars that affect Mindanao’s peace and order.
On Wednesday, the Army’s 6th Infantry (Redskin) Battalion, brought to peace table Moro families locked in 11 years of sporadic skirmishes that already claimed two lives from both sides.
Lt. Colonel Ruben Aquino, 6th IB battalion commander, successfully gathered the families Asraf Montañer and Mamarinta Macapodi Masacal at the Army base in Matling, Malabang, Lanao del Sur, about an hour drive to Marawi City where government forces have been fighting ISIS-inspired terrorists.
Witnessing the peace covenant signing were local officials, led by Lanao del Sur Boardmember Taha “Tanjie” P Macapodi and military officers.
The historic gathering marked the end of more than 10 years of bloody fighting between the Montañer-Masacal families.
Macapodi lauded the military for the efforts to bring the warring clans together and the stakeholders for giving peace a change.
“I laud the Montañer and Masacal clans for submitting themselves to amicable settlement and total peace in Malabang,” the official said.
Macapodi reminded the now reconciled families that anybody who breaks the agreement will suffer the brunt of military action.
Aquino also congratulated the warring families for listening and giving peace a chance.
He reechoed the message of Colonel Jesus Sarsagat, commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade that the younger generation of both clans are the end losers of this conflict, more known in Muslim communities as “rido” or clan war/family feud.
“The effects of the conflict are not for those who lost their lives, but to their children deprived of being raised by a strong family of Allah,” Sarsagat said.
“In rido, we don’t protect our family members instead we are endangering their lives and their future,” Aquino said.
“Long time ago, man was able to go the moon,” he said, adding that “why is it that because of rido you cannot go even to your neighboring barangays?”
With the successful mediation, Aquino said his unit will continue to perform its mandate for peace, security and further development in its area of operation.
More families locked in clan war are expected to be sitting across peace table inside the 6th IB headquarters, Aquino said.
To really make the reconciliation efforts effective and solemn, leaders of warring clans swore before the Holy Quran they will no longer use violence in settling misunderstanding.(PNA)
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