MARAWI CITY (MindaNews / 15 Aug) – A rido, or clan war, that had been going on for 40 years in the municipalities of Poona Bayabao and Masiu in Lanao del Sur was finally settled with the help of the military and the local government units of both towns during ceremonies at headquarters of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in Marawi City on Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Edgar Allan Villanueva, commander of the Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion, said the warring camps belong to the Baraontong, Macud, Rangeris and Magandia families on one hand, against Ditopor and Faisal Lumamba, mainly due to political rivalry and land dispute.
“Our campaign to settle ridos is ongoing. The local government units give us information as to existing ridos in their areas, then we initiate dialogues between the opposing camps to help settle the feud,” Villanueva said.
Both parties yielded two M16 rifles, magazines and ammunitions; signed an agreement to end the feud and pledged to the Qur’an to show their sincerity in ending the clan war.
Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. of Masiu and Mayor Lampa Pandi of Poona Bayabao facilitated the settlement of the rido.
“They are now free to move around after the family feud was settled,” said Pandi.
Clan members involved in a rido usually limit their movement so as not to cross paths with the opposing camps.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., 103IB commander, shared that in his hometown in the Cordillera, their equivalent to the rido is intense. “When one camp gets hold of a member of the other clan, he will be beheaded,” he said.
“We are all Filipinos and brothers in blood. We must unite and we should not allow our younger generations to inherit the grudges and the rages we’ve had in our past,” said Brawner.
Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, commander of the 1st Infantry Division and head of the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao provinces), lauded the troops and the local governments for the successful settlement of the feud.
“Our troops and your Army are sincere and ready to mediate, assist and facilitate settlement of clan wars in order to achieve a just and lasting peace in our communities,” he said. (Richel Umel / MindaNews)