Maguindanao clans agree to truce

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 16): Maguindanao clans agree to truce

The provincial governor here on Wednesday convinced local Moro clans locked in long standing family feud to finally smoke the pipe of peace.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, backed by police and military officials, witnessed the peace pact signing of at least seven heavily armed Moro clans who swore over the Quran to end their bloody “rido” (family feud) that have claimed lives of clan members.

The clans of Dagalangit, Malambut, Tomawis, Maricor and Aron had been at odds with the families of Minis, Bangon and Baroto for a long time.

They all belong to the Iranun tribe in the adjoining towns of Barira, Buldon and Matanog.

The settlement was also participated by the local police and the Maguindanao Task Force Reconciliation and Unification and the Regional Reconciliation and Unification Commission-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Mangudadatu lauded the clan leaders for heeding his call to end bloody clan wars that prevent development of Muslim communities aside from senseless cycle of violence and killings among clans.

Among the reasons of clan war were land dispute, misunderstanding and petty crimes that grew into family squabbles.

Mangudadatu also lauded the participation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) whose members and sympathizers were among personalities involved in family feud.

The peace pact signing and swearing before the Quran were held at Maguindanao provincial capitol grounds here.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1016086