Estino brothers end differences

COTABATO CITY – Two warring siblings belonging to a big Tausug clan in Sulu, who lost dozens of followers in deadly battles in recent years, took turns swearing over the Qur’an to reunite again as blood brothers the other day.

Munib Estino, mayor of Panglima Estino, a hostile town in the island province, and his brother, former Sulu provincial board member Kadil Estino, patched up their differences in nearby Patikul town in the presence of Gov. Sakur Tan and Vice Gov. Lady Anne Sahidullah.

The Estino brothers, whose gap stemmed from political differences starting in 2004, are sons of Tausug politician Maas Bawang, who was a dreaded Moro chieftain who fought the government as a secessionist guerrilla in the 1970s. – John Unson