Army Settles Maguindanao Moro Clan War

Moro families locked in a long-standing family feud that has claimed lives from both sides, agreed on Friday to “bury the hatchet” and end their bloody war with the help of the Philippine Army.

Using a diplomatic approach, the Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion (IB) settled the feud of two families in Buldon, Maguindanao, in a simple ceremony held at the 37th IB Alpha Company command post in Sitio Bura, Barangay Oring, Buldon, Maguindanao.

Lt. Col. Roberto Go Jr., 37th IB commander, said the families of Ape, Mangurong, and Tabubong of Barangay Edcor had an existing feud with the family of Mismar of Barangay Nuyo for the past several years.

“It started from a deer hunting trip when one of the family members of the Ape-Mangurong family accidentally shot and caused the untimely death of a member of the family of Mismar,” Go said of the protagonists who are distant relatives.

Attacks and counter-attacks have since become the order of the day for both clans until the Army intervened in the feud.

Family feud, or “rido” in the vernacular, is common in Buldon, an upland town in northern Maguindanao.

Go said that as an agent of peace and order, the troops of 37th IB initiated the settlement of the feud to prevent the warring clans from spewing more violence in the communities that might affect innocent civilians.

“The purpose of the settlement was to ensure that the conflict between the feuding families would be resolved and shall not recur in the future,” he said.

“This way the community people will live in peace and harmony with the intercession of the military and the local government unit,” Go added.

Buldon Mayor Abolais Manalao, Vice Mayor Cairudin Pangunutan, and Barangay Nuyo Chairman Ali Gumaga lauded the 37th IB for the job well done.

Go said during settlement, the warring families also handed over their firearms, among them two .45-caliber pistols and ammunition.

Major Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, commended both the feuding parties for their cooperation to the military and ended their “rido” voluntarily and peacefully.

The activity ended with both parties shaking hands as they vowed to be advocates of peace and order in their community. (PNA)