By Arthur L. Eamiguel
PAGADIAN CITY – In an effort to establish peace and unity among warring Muslim families, the 51st (FUERTE-UNO) battalion in coordination with Philippine National Police members of Malabang, Lanao del Sur on Saturday has pacified a days long “rido” or family feud between warring clans in said municipality.
The warring families identified as Halil-Albana, both from Balindong’s clan.
As the fighting intensified at 9am, the Bravo Company under 1st Lt. Ronald E. Dacawi and 1st Lt. Julius S Yasay, conducted clearing operations at Brgy. BPS together with PNP personnel under P/Insp Benjie A. Umalla of Malabang Police Station.
51IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Ceasar Marlon M. Yadao said the military employed two Simba Fighting Vehicles that fired volleys of warning shots which effectively broke the armed confrontation and forced the belligerents to flee leaving behind several war materials on the encounter site.
Yadao said the “rido” or family feud was fueled on August 25 in a separate shooting incident at Brgy. Jas which claimed the life of Jamil “Mel mel” Datumanong, a relative of Halil Balindong family.
Incidentally, the belligerent party accused of perpetrating the crime belongs to the Albana Balindong family, also a relative. This flared the successive armed confrontations between the Halil-Albana group on the afternoon of Aug. 25 and Aug. 27 at Brgy. BPS, the bulwark of Albana, he added.
The armed confrontations, Yadao said has caused panic particularly on civilian commuters taking the Cotabato-Malabang-Marawi route and nearby residents, according to 1st Lt. Emil Charlie B. Jaudian, CMO Officer of 51st IB.
“We initiated talks for a peaceful settlement with representatives of the warring groups to settle their conflict on Aug. 27”. This meeting transpired in the presence of Hon. Mamintal “Bombil” A. Adiong, Provincial Governor of Lanao del Sur, together with the LGUs of the 2nd Discitrict in Lanao del Sur and Col. Ricardo R. Visaya, Commander of 104th Infantry Brigade”, Yadao said.
“The members of AFP can help solve your differences through peaceful negotiations and should not be solved under the barrel of a gun. We are here to protect you preserve a peaceful environment”, Yadao explained to the civilians after the AFP-PNP intercession.
Meanwhile, 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division commander Maj. Gen. Noel A. Coballes expressed the need for collaboration with Maranao cultural and religious leaders to help solve this prevalent and endemic “Rido” violence which affect the peace and order situation in some parts of Mindanao. (JPA/AFP/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian City)