NorCot execs settle Muslim clan war, witness peace covenant signing

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 29): NorCot execs settle Muslim clan war, witness peace covenant signing

The bloody clan wars in remote villages here ended Wednesday with the signing of the peace covenant facilitated by the local government of North Cotabato, officials said today.

Warring clans ended their animosities in simple but meaningful ceremonies held at the this town gymnasium.

Involved in the clan war were the Minanimbong and Dagadas families in Sitio Mantanaon, Barangay Tunganon in Carmen, North Cotabato.

The signing, well attended by members of both families came with provision of blood money through the traditional cleansing of hearts called “Gagas sa Pusong” which mandate both of them to truthfully conform and follow the covenant.

It was witnessed by no less than Gov. Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza who also gave her message of peace during the activity.

The governor highlighted that the inking of peace covenant among the warring families in the village of Tunganon will benefit the majority of people in the village as well as nearby villages of Tupig and Bentangan and as far as neighboring villages of New Panay and Palacat in Aleosan.

“For so long the conflict between the Minanimbong and Dagadas has brought fear and anxiety to many families living in the area and the adjacent places. Finally, it is now over and the reconciliation among them will bring back peace to the people,” Gov. Taliño-Mendoza said.

The governor said she is very appreciative of the efforts of Engr. Datu Noldin S. Oyod of the Project Management Office of the National Irrigation Administration-Malmar Irrigation Project Stage II (MIPII) and the help given by the United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD) and LIPAD MINDANAO in facilitating the peace covenant.

Oyod coordinated with local commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the area and communicated with the Local Government Units of Carmen, Aleosan and Pikit in making the peace covenant a reality.

The signatories of the covenant were led by the brothers Datu Pax and Datu Teo from the Minanimbong clan and Commander Tarzan of the Dagadas clan and a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Their long years of conflict have resulted to the death of number of relatives in both sides and damage to properties of both parties.

The signed covenant stipulates that the Minanimbong and Dagadas families agreed and embraced wholeheartedly the traditional “Gagas sa Pusong” which was made during the “Kanduli” and the actual signing of covenant.

Upon signing, the Minanimbong and Dagadas agreed to withdraw all the cases filed against each other before the Regional Trial Courts of Kabacan and Midsayap and this is by executing affidavits of desistance.

The Minanimbong clan would not prevent the return of Commander Tarzan Dagadas in the village and this was made possible with the assistance given by a local MILF Commander before the actual return of Commander Tarzan.

Other stipulations of the covenant include both families working together to restore peace and order in the village avoiding provocative statements that would spark misunderstanding anew; the parties following the Islam teachings, forgive and rebuild trust and harmony, the parties will ensure to inform the community or the village of the peace covenant; that all violations of any of the provisions of the peace covenant will undergo thorough investigation and evaluation by LGU’s of Carmen, Aleosan and Pikit and be brought to the attention of the MILF, PNP and AFP particularly the 7th and 40th IB.

The families of Minanimbong and Dagadas also agreed to designate Datu Pax Minanimbong and Pamo Dagadas as the respective representatives of each family.

They will also acknowledge the great importance of the local conflict mitigation and facilitation of all the involved agencies and offices in restoration of peace in the village and finally, both parties agreed to acknowledge the efforts of the negotiating panels.

The 7th IB and the 40IB of the Philippine Army have also been actively engaged in the peace covenant signing along with The Asia Foundation through its Mitigating Local Conflict Program.

The signing was also highlighted by a “Kanduli” or thanksgiving from both family expressing their sincere act of reconciliation and accepting each other.

In statement released by the Office of Gov. Mendoza, it named the key persons who helped the realization of the peace covenant signing were Carmen Municipal Mayor Roger Taliño, Aleosan Municipal Mayor Vicente Sorupia, Jr., former Pikit Municipal Mayor Sumulong Sultan, members of the responding team and representatives from the LIPAD Mindanao and UNYPAD.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=730344