ILIGAN CITY, Philippines--Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman Sr. said on Tuesday morning that his family could agree to an "amicable" settlement with the Dela Paz family to put behind them the golfing brawl that blighted their holidays and brought them to court.

"We're open to that," he told reporters at the Macareg-Macapagal House in Timoga where President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was to preside over her first full Cabinet meeting for 2009 at 1:30 p.m.

Pangandaman said several intermediaries had approached his family for a possible out-of-court settlement with the Dela Paz family.

Businessman Delfin Dela Paz and his 14-year-old son Bino and the Pangandaman's two sons, Hussein and Nasser Jr., the mayor of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, swapped charges of physical injuries, grace coercion, light threats and even child abuse at the Antipolo Prosecutors' Office on Monday over the Dec. 26 golfing brawl at the Valley Golf and Country Club.

The two families fought over the use of the fairway. Each pointed to the other as having started the fight.

The Dela Pazes have asked Secretary Pangandaman Sr. to resign, go on leave or face suspension, saying he goaded his sons into the fight and even shouted invectives during the incident.

Pangandaman Sr. denied the charges.