2 enemy clans in Basilan reconcile

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Leaders of two feuding clans in Lamitan City in Basilan forged on Monday, August 3, a covenant brokered by local officials, ending a deep-seated animosity that badly affected villagers and caused underdevelopment in areas where both sides had a longtime showdown.

Captain Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, told reporters on Tuesday that leaders of the Ballaho and Dulla clans agreed to reconcile through the joint intercession of Gov. Mujiv Hataman, Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay, officials of the Army’s 101^st Infantry Brigade and different PRO-BAR units Basilan.

Representatives of the Ballaho and Dulla clans shook hands and hugged each other after they signed a written peace agreement in the presence of local executives and traditional Yakan, Tausug, Sama and non-Muslim community leaders during a symbolic rite in Barangay Balas in Lamitan City on Tuesday. Hataman and Furigay also affixed their signatures to the document.

Furigay and Hataman separately told reporters on Tuesday that they are thankful to the Ballaho and Dulla clans for conceding to their appeals for them to reconcile.

“We are glad that they agreed to bury their hatchets for good and thrive in peace again,” Furigay said.

Salanguit said the city government of Lamitan, Hataman and police and military officials in the province shall cooperate in restoring normalcy in areas affected by the conflict between the two clans.

“Religious and cultural cohesion and multi-sector unity are essential in sustaining the peace imminently spreading around Basilan now,” Hataman said.