Rido displaces 1,200 persons in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines - More than 1,200 persons have been displaced due to a rido or clan war in Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Basilan, a civil defense official said Monday.

Myrna Angot, officer-in-charge of the Office of Civil Defense Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said residents were forced to flee after a shooting incident transpired on July 30.

The firefight was caused by a feud between the families of a certain Tanad Nasalun and a certain Assalan Asala.

According to police reports, Nasul and about 100 armed men from Barangay Langgung went to Barangay Languyan to confront the group of Asala.

The two groups then engaged in a firefight that started at around 6 a.m. and ended at around 9:30 a.m.

There were no reported casualties but a total of 1,203 persons or 288 families fled and sought refuge in their relatives’ houses. Ten houses were also destroyed by the gun battle.

Hadji Mohammad Ajul Mayor Talib Pawaki has scheduled a meeting with the two opposing groups to prevent bloodshed and to craft a peaceful settlement.

Security forces are continuously monitoring the affected areas. –  with Irene Bongcales