Clan wars among North Cotabato families erupted anew, LGU settles dispute

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 9): Clan wars among North Cotabato families erupted anew, LGU settles dispute

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato -- Local officials here are trying to peacefully settle a long standing family feud, locally known as "rido" to restore normalcy and allow displaced families to return home.

Mayor Romeo Arania of Midsayap has repeatedly and separately met with two Muslim clans who happened to be related to some members of either the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

This after clashes between a village chair and an MILF commander erupted Tuesday night in Barangay Lumupog, Midsayap, North Cotabato.

"It was a long standing rido that we are trying to solve and settle peacefully," Arania who stressed both sides agreed to a amicable settlement.

Involved in the clan feud on one side was Chairman Datu Puti Tukuran of Barangay Lumupog and MILF Commander Abas Kudanding.

Tukuran is said to have relatives and allies both in the MILF and MNLF.

"This is not an organization fight, this is more of family feud and their affiliation or alliance with MILF or MNLF was accidental," Arania told reporters.

In January 2012, both sides clashed in Barangay Lumupog that forced hundreds of families to flee and have not returned home since.

Arania said both sides previously agreed to a ceasefire but there were occasional exchange of bullets as both sides were armed.

He said a Muslim council of elders have been mediating the warring clans with the help of the GPH-MILF ceasefire committee.

According to Arania, pride prevail among warring families thus they fire shots every time they meet or see each other.

"It was just a small barangay and the warring clans occupy two areas that when one member crosses the border he or she will be fired upon," he said.

Early this week, a house of one of the followers of Kudanding was allegedly torched and was blamed to the group of Tukuran.

"It was supposedly a quite place for a while until the reported burning of a house when they started shooting each other again," Arania said.

The displaced families who had been staying in nearby barangay of Sambolawan and other villages continue to receive assistance from the town's social welfare and development office.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=603220