MANILA -- A military peace adviser urged Friday the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to end ridos (clan wars) in the wake of the clashes among its members on Thursday where about 100 families fled their homes.
"We will never stop urging the MILF to control their warring forces and help settle family disputes even before they can escalate to violence," Brigadier General Leo Cresente Ferrer said during the aftermath of two separate clashes in Barangay Damalibi, Sahrif Aguak in Maguindanao and Barangay Balabac, Pikit in North Cotabato on Thursday morning.
Ferrer said the MILF should maintain peace on the ground as a show of sincerity to the peace process.
"We urge the MILF to work with the government in bringing peace in Mindanao. We would like to believe that the MILF is as sincere as the government when it comes to the peace negotiations," Ferrer said.
"We would like to see that sincerity reflected on the ground as well, by knowing that the MILF can control their troops from going into armed clashes again in the future," he added.
About 100 families fled their homes and were led to safety after the two clashes.
Reports from the Government of the Philippines (GPH) Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) said the first encounter was between the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Commander Rutin and the MILF's 118th Base Command (BC), Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) led by Commander Otok.
The BIFF is a breakaway group of the MILF led by rogue commander Ustadz Ameril Umra Kato. The BIAF is the official armed wing of the MILF.
The clashes were allegedly caused by land dispute, which led to murder of Otok's nephew, a farmer.
Thursday's attack was believed to be Otok's retaliation for his nephew's death.
"The GPH-CCCH has already informed the army unit and the MILF-CCCH about the fighting," Ferrer said. "They have already requested the MILF-CCCH to direct the 118th BC to cease the fighting and leave the area once the BIFF elements have withdrawn."
Ferrer added that army troops were also requested to establish checkpoints along the highway to deter encroachment of reinforcing troops from both sides.
The second wave of violence broke out around two hours after the first encounter.
This time, it was between the group of Mando Mandalait and a certain Commander Lugom of the MILF’s 108th BC, BIAF, with reinforcement from one Ibrahim Tan-ao under Kagui Samir of the MILF National Guard Front Command.
Reasons of the clashes were reportedly personal grudge and politics, which are among the many causes of rido as well.
According to an MILF source, “initiatives to resolve the feud were done by the MILF but it was not sustained due to personal grudge and political connections that has been long been rooted in patayan or murder.”
According to the GPH-CCCH, coordination with the local government unit, MILF-CCCH, Cotabato Local Monitoring Team and the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army to stop the fighting and restore peace in the affected area is ongoing.
Recently, news reports surfaced that some elements of the MILF doubt the possibility of a peace pact under the Aquino administration.
"The government wants a peace agreement with the MILF, but we also want to see them prove that they can work with us in keeping the peace," Ferrer added.
Both parties are set to meet again for another round of formal exploratory talks this month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (SDR/Sunnex)
