Southern Philippine town ends decades-old clan feuds

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines

Decades-old bloody clan war settled in Buldon, Thursday, according to Atty. Ishak Mastura, chairman of the Regional Board of Investments – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

He expressed hope that the amicable settlement of the clan wars in the agricultural-fertile hinterland town, will pave way to investors and eventually bring economic prosperity that will benefit the Iranuns – a Muslim tribe mixed of Maranao and Maguindanaoan origins.

“Now we can confidently offer Buldon to prospective investors as a viable site for large-scale agricultural ventures,” Mastura was quoted by Philippine star as saying.

The clan wars which have been traced back decades, were the result of land disputes, political rivalries, and more which worsened as the Iranuns, according to the report, exacted revenge for affronts to their clan pride and honor.

ARMM Regional Police Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac commends the offices of town Mayor Abolais Manalao and provincial Governor Esmael Mangudadatu who have been actively reconciling feuding clans through the Maguindanao Task Force on Reconciliation and Unification.

Coordination among the local government unit, police and military along with the clerics of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front assisted in the negotiations with the leaders of the Iranun clans by convincing them to follow the teachings of Qur’an and live in peace again.

In a symbolic reconciliation rite, the clan wars were formally ended with the surrender of dozens of high-powered firearms by the clan leaders in exchange for cattle from the local government.

“My constituents eventually realized raising livestock is more sensible, profitable than buying guns to fight rival clans, which can only worsen the animosity among them,” Manalao said.