Warring pols agree to end clashes

COTABATO CITY—Authorities expect an end to the bloody confrontation between followers of two local politicians in Rajah Buayan town in Maguindanao following their pledge to bury the hatchet.

Duma Ugayan and Jerry Macalay, chairs of Barangays Malibpolok and Tabungao (not Baital as earlier reported), respectively, swore before the Koran that they would end their animosity in a dialogue facilitated by local clerics, other officials and the military on Thursday at the headquarters of the Army’s First Mechanized Brigade.

Two weeks of fighting between followers of the two had resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to nine others. About 10,000 people from at least seven Rajah Buayan villages had fled their homes.

“They shook hands and embraced each other with the promise that they will sign a peace pact in another meeting scheduled next week in Rajah Buayan,” Col. Mayoralgo dela Cruz, a brigade officer, said on Friday.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu lauded the two officials for reconciling their differences.

He said he was worried that the clashes could affect the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Ugayan is a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander while Macalay have relatives and supporters from the MILF.

The two village leaders said their feud had nothing to do with the MNLF and the MILF because it started from killings related to land disputes in Barangays Mileb, Baital, Gaunan, Panadtaban and Sapakan. Charlie Señase and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao