KIDAPAWAN CITY — Army “peacemakers” on Sunday succeeded in bringing together to a “table of peace” Muslim families involved in a bloody family feud following weeks of negotiations.
The warring families agreed to end their conflict by signing a peace pact in front of local leaders and military officials, led by Col. Robert Dauz, commander of the Army’s First Mechanized Infantry Brigade (MIB), in Buluan, Maguindanao.
Assemblyman Khadafe Mangudadatu, offered his home as a venue for the historic peace pact-signing ceremony.
Dauz said both parties embroiled in the conflict — Bong Abdul, 33, and Kindaw Samama, 45 — agreed to sign the peace pact in a ceremony held at 9 a.m. at Mangudadatu’s house.
The families have been at odds since 2015 and both sides have lost several members in a series of armed confrontation.
Dauz said the Army unit worked with local chief executives and traditional leaders in resolving the conflict that had sparked armed violence in the past years.
“We applied the whole of government concept in addressing the issues that fueled the conflict among blood relatives. Both the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion and the 1st MIB worked in tandem to ensure the success of the negotiations on the ground,” the Army official said.
Abdul, village chairman of Midconding, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao, was grateful that the Army and local officials facilitated the conflict resolution.
“I could not describe my happiness today. Finally, my constituents can return to work in the 80-hectare farmland that was abandoned due to violent clashes during the past two years. We can now rebuild our lives,” he said, tears welling in his eyes.
His adversary, Samama, said his signing of the peace covenant was a clear indication he will no longer involve his family in inter-clan violence, in support of the government’s call for the peaceful resolution of minor conflicts.
“I swear to Allah that I will adhere to our agreement here. It is high time that we mend our broken ties as members of the same family,” said Samama, who lost a brother in the fighting last year.
Mangudadatu, for his part, said all residents must abandon the path of violence to support the peace and development agenda of the government.
“Let us stop this senseless infighting among relatives and instead, support President (Rodrigo) Duterte’s vision of achieving genuine peace and development in Mindanao,” said Mangudadatu who is related to both parties of the conflict.
Mangudadatu himself was injured during a family feud in Buluan 30 years ago. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
