COTABATO CITY – To further strengthen security sector’s understanding on the complexity of settling ‘rido’ or clan feuds in the Bangsamoro region, the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) conducted a 2-day learning session with the Philippine National Police Regional Office (PRO-BAR) on Jan. 27-28 in the city.
Participants were from the different units, sections, and divisions of PRO-BAR in the provinces of BARMM – Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, including Cotabato City.
“Our commitment towards a peaceful, orderly, and safe BARMM, is probably the same with yours as law enforcement workforce, with utmost responsibility to maintain and protect peace and order situation in BARMM, and the Philippines,” said MPOS Minister Hussein P. Muñoz.
“With confidence, I believe today is just the beginning of the many concerted efforts in peacebuilding between the MPOS and the PNP,” he added.
Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge of Regional Community Affairs and Development Division (RCADD) PLTCOL Romel A. Naciongayo said the PNP is committed to help prevent and resolve rido in order to achieve peace and order in the BARMM community.
“Ang problema ng rido ay hindi dapat natin isantabi bagkus kailangan nating makilahok sa anumang gawain upang wakasan ang rido at magkaroon ng matiwasay at mapayapang lipunan,” said Naciongayo.
According to Sultan Abdul Hamidullah P. Atar, executive director of Reconciliatory Initiatives for Development Opportunities (RIDO) Inc. in Lanao del Sur, holistic peaceful approach in resolving conflict comes in four types: communication, negotiation, mediation, and dialogue.
“As a local mediator you need to be brave,” Atar stressed.
Minister Muñoz said that MPOS has so far recorded 442 cases of rido across the region and the number may potentially increase as they proceed with rido mapping and profiling this year.
To date, 49 out of the 442 rido cases has been resolved by MPOS, with 32 cases from Lanao del Sur, 10 from Maguindanao, and seven cases from the special geographical area in the 63 barangays in North Cotabato.
As part of the ministry’s reconciliation and unification goal, it has already conducted trainings on alternative dispute resolution, forum on the role of women in rido settlement, data gathering, and community-based training in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and in the 63 barangays in North Cotabato.
As of date, there are 1,220 local mediators in BARMM communities trained in settling conflict and rido.
Bangsamoro Administrative Code states that shall be responsible for public safety. It shall have coordinative function with offices and agencies that maintain public order and safety in the region, and shall perform functions relating to peace building, reconciliation, and unification of all the peoples of the region. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
