2 clans in Maguindanao end 40 years of ‘rido’
But it was only on Sunday that the Malambut-Kudanding-Alo clan saw the Madid-Cawi-Macauyag eye to eye as they swore before the Koran to end the conflict. They hugged each other and asked for forgiveness after signing a peace covenant.
Members of both clans, local leaders, military and police officials and the media witnessed the closure of the conflict.
The rido has claimed a total of 16 lives from both sides and injured others.
One of those who was injured was 66-year old Amerodin Malambut. He came to the negotiation area wearing dark glasses and guided by a relative because he is now blind.
Amerodin’s eyes were hit in a firefight in 1977 in Minabay with their rival clan where two of his relatives were killed.[]
The idea is to enable four towns to come up with mechanisms on peace building in partnership with the military, police, MILF, council of elders, and civil society groups.
Under the JTF-Iranun, the towns take turns hosting quarterly meetings with the 603rd Brigade.
The meetings enable the mayors to coordinate easily the handling of ridos that happen across municipal borders and strengthen their relationships with security forces, said Clarissa Echavez-Rendon, the area coordinator of USAID ENGAGE.
Huge investments
Multimillion-dollar investments in banana, pineapple, coconut and coffee are coming in now that relative peace has been attained, Matanog Mayor Mohammad Guro said.
He said the investors were drawn to these towns for their fertile lands which are suitable for high value crops.
“In fact we really don’t need to wait long for the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law) to make it a Bangsamoro Region. We just need to work it out with a peaceful community where internal conflicts are settled and could not hamper economic activities,” he said.
Iranuns inhabit the areas surrounding the MILF’S former Camp Abubakar, now called Camp Iranun in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao Del Sur and even parts of North Cotabato. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)
