BASILAN – A rido, or clan war, that has been going on for 22 years between two political families from Akbar Municipality in Basilan was finally settled through the intervention of the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) and its partner organizations.
MPOS’ partners included the Local Government Unit of Akbar, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), Moro Islamic Liberation Front – Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF), Bantay Basilan Inc., Lamitan City Rose Women Organization Inc, and the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).
The ceremonial rido settlement of the two families, whose identities were kept confidential, was held at MILF Camp Magsagad in Barangay Baas, Lamitan City last week, February 11. The families agreed to pay compensation of moral damages and signed a peace accord to officially end their feud which started due to election related violence and other political incidents.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat dahil sa wakas meron na naman gulong natuldukan. Ang MPOS at ang local government natin ay tutulong sa ano mang paraan na pwede nating gawin para mas mapaigting ang kapayapaan sa ating lugar,” Akbar Mayor Alih Awal Sali said.
During the negotiations, MPOS and Mayor Sali provided financial and logistical support to manage the agreement and settlement of the two families.
One of the family members involved thanked MPOS and the LGU for coming together to end their more than 2-decade clan war.
“Yung nangyari sa amin hindi basta basta yun, pero nagpapasalamat ako kasi tapos na, nagkasundo na kami at sana hindi na ito mauulit dahil masaya ako para sa pamilya ko,” the family member said.
“Salamat sa mga tumulong, kay Mayor at sa MPOS, salamat sa inyo. In shaa Allah pagpalain kayo,” he said.
Meanwhile, MILF-BIAF Battalion Commader Nasir Anta promised to support MPOS in all of their activities related to peace and order in the community and also expressed his gratitude to BARMM government for the efforts they exerted to help the Bangsamoro.
“Unang-una nagpapasalamat ako sa Allah dahil sa dami ng pinagdaanan natin hindi niya tayo iniwan. Ang sa atin lang ay sumuporta tayo sa pamahala ng BARMM at sa MPOS sa ano mang ginagawa nila para sa atin,” Anta said.
“Sa aming mga BIAF handa kaming tumolong sa ano mang makakaya natin, dahil ang importante sa atin ay ang kasiyahan ng Bangsamoro lalo na ng mga taga Basilan,” he added.
After the rido settlement, MPOS promised to extend its hand in helping the first party file their Affidavit of Desistance for the dismissal of the case earlier filed in court against the second party.
“The case that been filed in court does not end with the covenant of the parties. It has to pass a process as prescribed by the rules of the court. In Shaa Allah, we will reach that point. MPOS will stay and extend our help to until the dismissal of the case. Andito lang lagi ang MPOS para tumulong sa abot ng aming makakaya,” said MPOS Community Affairs Officer Shahid Akbara. (Arnalyn Dulla/BIO)
