ARMM eyes reconciliation of feuding political clans

COTABATO CITY — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Parouk Hussin is pushing for the reconciliation of at least 80 local feuding political clans by yearend to ensure peaceful elections in the region next year.

The ARMM covers Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Marawi City — all locked in clan wars that have been unduly stunting the region’s socio-economic growth. Hostilities between the feuding families are also known to worsen during election periods.

Speaking on Hussin’s behalf, Hadji Nabil Tan, ARMM’s executive secretary, said that the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) and the ARMM’s Department of Interior and Local Government, which will both be in the forefront of settling the deep-seated clan wars, would have to flex their resources to accomplish their common goal of preventing clashes among rival families during the campaign period, which starts next month.

"The bickering of rival clans usually escalates during elections. Sometimes the elections become an extension of the clan wars involving feuding families," Tan said.

"We have to make do with what we have. Whoever initiates the reconciliation of clans has to spend on something that would appease both sides, such as blood money for those killed in the hostilities involving the two factions," Tan said.

He disclosed that they would try to reconcile as many feuding clans as possible before next month’s filing of certificates of candidacy for elective positions in ARMM towns and provinces.

The ARMM police has been blaming violent "rido" or family feuds involving powerful Muslim politicians as the primary reason for the proliferation of loose firearms in the region.

A recent study by the RPOC indicates that each of ARMM’s 97 component towns has a stockpile of at least 70 military-type firearms, including shoulder-fired M-79 grenade launchers and M-203, M-14 and M-16 assault rifles.

At least two provincial governors in the ARMM have reportedly been keeping more than 10 M60 machine guns in their arsenals of sophisticated weapons.

Since February 2002, Hussin’s office has worked out the amicable settlement of 29 decades-old clan wars in the region. As a consequence, leaders of the clans Hussin has reconciled voluntarily donated more than a hundred firearms to police units in their respective towns, convinced that there’s no more need for them to stockpile weapons they previously needed for protection,

Tan said some political leaders in the region have even been spending their own money to reconcile their feuding constituents.

"The approach in resolving these conflicts should always be reconciliatory and the religious community plays a very big role in addressing these concerns," Tan said.