MILF: Clans Feud in Maguindanao Sealed

Posted to the MILF Website (Sep 9): Clans Feud in Maguindanao Sealed

After almost nine years of security threats and economic disorder between the warring clans of Daraba and Ronda, they finally ended their conflict through a peace covenant signed during the thanksgiving ceremony held in the municipal gymnasium of Parang, Maguindanao on Thursday, September 3. 

“Aside from LGUs, security sector, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, there were international partners observed and signed the document as witnesses of that historic event,” said Abdulfarid Amella, team leader of the Quick Response Team organized by the United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD).

Amella disclosed that the Non-violent Peaceforce in the Philippines specifically the team based in Datu Piang Maguidanao, United Nations Office for Coordination on Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), and the The Asia Foundation graced the said ceremony.

In his message, Dr Rahib L. Kudto, President of the UNYPAD, said that the UNYPAD started conflict mitigation intervention since 2005 and it used to be one of the old partners of the The Asia Foundation (TAF).

“The signing of the agreement between the Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) strengthens our commitment to really pursue our conflict mitigation work as we know that this plays a very important role in bringing the situation back to normalcy,” he pointed out.

“This supports the Normalization Process,” he added.

Dr Anwar Saluwang, Director of the Development Management Center of UNYPAD, said, “Malaki ang tulong sa matagumpay na paglagda ng kasunduan ang mga grupong nagtulong-tulong sa settlement ng Rido tulad ng GHQ-Base Command ng MILF, 37th IB, PA, LGU ng Parang at Barira, gyundin ang Task Force Kalilintad, at PNP.”

The GPH Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), and Maguindanao Governor Toto Magudadatu’s representative Abdulazis Ragundo of  Maguindanao Task Force Reconciliation and Unification (MTFRU) and Commander Saifullah Khan of the Central Mindanao Front of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of MILF, also witnessed the important affair, said Saluwang.

He also said that among of the highlighted things in the program was the giving of money called ‘cleansing of hearts’ by Ronda clan to Daraba clan. The assistance was handed over by Hon. municipal Mayor Abdulradzak D. Tomawis of Barira. 

Saluwang added that both clans were also swearing by putting their hands over holy Qur’an to strengthen their commitment to really put their conflict into a total closure.

Noraida Chio, Senior Program Officer of the TAF, said that the major objective of the program is averting the escalation of local conflicts in the communities that may derail the peace process.

According to the TAF research called “Contested Corners of Asia” reported that in Mindanao, Chio said, “one of the major findings tells us that local conflict such as rido is actually devastating and there was a conservative estimate that around 120,000 lives were lost and between two to three billion dollars economic lost.”   

Chio pointed out that if these estimated cost of economic lost will be put into social and other services it could make a big difference in the marginalized Bangsamoro people.

She stressed that rido is not part of the Bangsamoro culture as others may believe it. 

“Let us correct the impressions of other people outside the Bangsamoro areas that rido is part of our culture, no it’s not part of our culture, we are all brothers and sisters, we’re all Bangsamoro, we’re all Moslems,” Chio stressed.  

MILF Commander Khan emphasized to the warring clans that unless there is forgiveness in the hearts of each of the conflicting families they are all in the hellfire. 

“To those who have rido and if there are groups who may want to intervene to your conflict, accept them because that is best chance to solve your conflict and so that you will not be thrown to the hellfire,” said Khan. 

In his message of support, Khan thanked all the actors behind the initiatives. 

Georgi S. Engelbrecht, Head of Field Office Maguindanao team of the Nonviolent Peaceforce appreciated the presence of the MILF, Army, Police and other sectors who have trusted each other, cooperated, and worked together for peace.

Muktar Ali Farah of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) has offered prayers (Al-Fatiha/The Opener) for the government and the MILF peace process and to the Daraba and Ronda Clans.

Meantime, the IHH Turkey-based international humanitarian organization, granted scholarship for the Daraba and Ronda children aged 7 to 12yrs old to study Arabic in the IHH’s orphans School in Cotabato City. 

Omer Kesmen, IHH representative in the Philippines based in Cotabato City, said, “We will award scholarship for 5 girls each family to study, and the IHH is expected to visit both clans for possible economic intervention.”

Lastly, in the messages of commitment by Daraba and Ronda clans representatives, they have sworn to end their conflict so that they can go back to normal life.

The program is under the Building Autonomous and Stable Institution and Communities for Bangsamoro Advancement through National Level and Grassroots Organization Network (B-BANGON) project implemented by the UNYPAD, LIPAD Mindanao, MinHuDI, and AFADMin in partnership with the TAF with funding support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia. 

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