Maguindanao land dispute settled as claimants agree to peaceful resolution

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 21): Maguindanao land dispute settled as claimants agree to peaceful resolution

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu on Wednesday brokered an interim peace deal between warring groups fighting over ownership of vast track of lands in Datu Abdullah Sangki town in Maguindanao.

In the interim peace deal, parties to the bloody land dispute agreed to a peaceful resolution of ownership issue.

Mangudadatu summoned local officials of Datu Abdullah Sangki and representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to help mediate and come up with a “win-win” solution to the conflict which already claimed lives from both sides.

The governor said he tasked the provincial offices of the natural resources and agrarian reform to determine real owners of vast agricultural lands in the village of Banaba in Datu Abdullah Sangki.

"All parties agreed to allow concern government agencies to address the issue peacefully," Mangudadatu told reporters.

Witnessing the peace pact signing were Brig Gen. Glen Macasero, chair of the government ceasefire panel and Butch Malang, his counterpart in the MILF. They too signed the document.

Under the GPH-MILF peace accord, both sides are mandated to help settle security concerns in identified areas in Mindanao.

Christian settlers have been arming themselves to protect the 60 hectares of rice fields in the village of Banaba against harassment by lawless groups trying to protect Moro farmers.

On Christmas Eve, BIFF attacked the village of Banaba and Kauran in adjacent Ampatuan town and killed 11 settlers. Government forces chased the attackers and killed four members of outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

With the peace accord, Mangudadatu said he was hoping the conflict will cease and land ownership will be finally settled.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=848766