Peace returns in ‘rido-torn’ village

COTABATO CITY — Peace has been restored in the village of Matilac in Pigcawayan, Cotabato, following a concerted effort by military and Muslim leaders last week to convince two armed Moro groups to reposition themselves and halt their armed engagements.

Local officials and the commander of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division, Major Gen. Alex S. Rillera, separately told reporters on Sunday that the “rido” or clan conflict between Tong D. Talusan and Ebrahim L. Piang and their followers has been effectively suspended through their reciprocal agreement to disengage.

Mr. Talusan is a field commander in the 104^th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while Mr. Piang, alias “Kagui Sabod,” is a leader of the MILF’s 105^th Base Command but backed by his relatives from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“We are sure of the full restoration of normalcy in Barangay Matilac soon,” Mr. Rillera said as mediation continues to settle squabbles over control of strategic patches of lands in Barangay Matilac and some political differences.

The Cotabato Provincial Peace and Order Council under the administration of Gov. Emmylou Taliño Mendoza, who chairs the Regional Development Council 12, supported the 6^th ID’s efforts to resolve the conflict between, said Mr. Rillera. — John Felix M. Unson