Maguindanao officials wary over civilians safety due to rido clashes

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Officialdom of the provincial government in this province convened on Monday here an unprecedented Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting where stakeholders raised concern over the safety of civilians affected by sporadic armed clashes due to rido or clan wars.

The special meeting, chaired by Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, was hosted this time by Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega with an extraordinary attendance of 32 mayors, police provincial director Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, DILG director Amina Dalandag and other members of the PPOC.

Also present was the former acting Governor Sajid Ampatuan, accompanying his wife incumbent mayor Reshal of Datu Unsay. Ampatuan, who is out on bail as one of over 100 suspects in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre of 58 people, 32 of them media workers, was obviously glad in his handshake with Gov. Mangudadatu, who lost his wife, sisters and other female kin in the carnage.

UNPRECEDENTED MEETING - 32 out of 36 mayors in Maguindanao attend the Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting on Monday inside Camp Siongco where Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu shook hand with former acting Governor Sajid Ampatuan [inset photo] after the gathering in front of Maj. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander. (Moh Saaduddin)

“My administration promotes unity and productive peace…Our quest for justice (in the massacre) is up to the court to decide…Meantime, we must move on to bring Maguindanao to greater heights,” Mangudadatu said when sought for comment about his cordial pose with Ampatuan after the meeting.

Highlighted during the gathering were various issues and concerns including the threat of extremism and terrorism, illegal drugs, 4Ps (pantawid pamilyang pilipino program) implementations, and programs strengthening cooperation between local government units and the Army.

Also discussed was the skirmishes last week in the towns of Datu Saudi-Ampatuan, Rajah Buayan and Datu Abdullah Sangki involving two families allied with ground commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of 105th and 106th base commands that sent out hundreds of families from their homes and left some casualties, including a wounded minor.

“Protection for civilians, particularly to women, children and aged people, is our main concern,” Mangudadatu said.

The meeting adopted recommendations and resolutions prescribing for the MILF hierarchy’s constantly policing of its field commanders and followers reportedly involved in the armed skirmishes in both towns, and prodding concerned local government executives intensify pacification efforts.

Authorities believed that the recent conflict was a family feud stemmed from the killing of Datu Saudi Ampatuan Councilor Sahabudin Namli, 42-year-old, on February 21. Day after the murder, ground commanders of the MILF namely Datu Acob and Datu Itim traded shot at Barangay Madia in Datu Saudi-Ampatuan town.

Namli was not the only elected officials murdered in Datu Saudi-Ampatuan town recently.

In November 2016, councilor Anwar Sindatuk was killed after assumed the seat of the town’s vice mayor a month after the death of mayor Samsudin Dimaukom in an armed engagement between his group and anti-narcotic operatives in North Cotabato province.

"Despite the recent murder [of Namli], there were also running family feuds due to land dispute and political affiliations, so we need all stakeholders to work hand-in-hand resolving the issue. And since, we are under Martial Law, we are doing our best in resolving the issue," Maj. Gen. Dela Vega said.

"And top of that, we give primacy to the existing peace process because we know that MILF, MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front] and then some other private individuals were involved," he added.