5 Maguindanao families agree to end years of ‘rido’

TACURONG CITY , Philippines  â€“ The Sarosong and Mohmin families, locked in a 17-year “rido” (clan war) that had left 27 people dead on both sides, never thought they could ever live in peace again – until they signed a truce before the Qur’an Friday.

The conflict between the Sarosongs and Mohmins, who are related by blood, was one of five family feuds settled amicably over the weekend by the Maguindanao peace and order council and the province’s league of mayors.

Leaders of the Sarosong and Mohmin clans and their common enemy, the Marandang family, as well as the rival Taug and Bantilan families, signed separate peace compacts in the presence of officials led by Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu.

Representatives of the five families said they agreed to mend their differences through the intercession of Mangudadatu and emissaries of Brig. Gen. Edmund Pangilinan, the newly installed commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.