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Four-year clan war between two Maguindanao families settled
COTABATO CITY - Two warring clans in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao have been reconciled in Cotabato City on Saturday, bringing to end four years of political dispute between them.
Representatives of the Sindatok and Tundok families affixed their signatures on a document detailing the peace agreement at the office of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua.
They were Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Resty Sindatok and his relatives headed by Commander Hawn of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 105th Base Command, and the families of Wahid Tundok of the MILF 118th Base Command.
Tundok is a close relative and ally of the past administration led by the Dimaukom family in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao.
Touted as Maguindanao's biggest clan war or "rido", the dispute between the Sindatok and Tundok families involved troops and commanders of the MILF.
"Impossible yet we made it possible," said Macacua, who is also the chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the armed wing of the MILF. He also carries the pseudonym "Sammy Gambar."
Macacua facilitated the reconciliation of the two warring Muslim clans and let them swear before the Holy Quran that they will abide by the localized peace agreement.
He said the success of the settlement is tantamount to the half of the entire weight of rido problems in the province.
Macacua thanked the residents of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town for their participation.
The reconciliation was brokered and witnessed by Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Teng Mangudadatu who represented his wife Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, as well as the MILF-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), Adhoc-Joint Action Group (MILF-AHJAG) and Maguindanao Peace Monitoring and Investigation Team.
Religious and traditional leaders were also instrumental in ending the conflict.
No blood money was involved in the settlement of the conflict but it will pave the way for development in their communities.
“We are thankful that our effort with BARMM chief minister Kagi Murad has worked. This will now give better direction for Bangsamoro region as peaceful communities will focus on development,” Governor Teng Mangudadatu said.
He added that the truce was made because by blood, the warring factions are also related.
Macacua reminded the parties to subscribe to the agreement and whoever violates it will be considered “enemies” of BARMM, MILF and Maguindanao province.
“Whoever violates the agreement will be penalized accordingly… If the violators are MILF members, they will be delisted outright from the ranks and will be charged,” Macacua said.
Mayor Sindatok appreciated the efforts of the MILF leadership to facilitate the reconciliation.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank the MILF leadership, the governor of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat because this conflict is finally settled,” he said in the vernacular.
Butch Malang of the MILF ceasefire panel said the “rido” settlement was unprecedented since previous efforts to reconcile warring families have failed.
His group is working also with other clan wars involving MILF combatants in Pikit town in North Cotabato and other communities. —KG, GMA News
