ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two warring families from Panglima Estino, Sulu, signed a peace covenant on Wednesday afternoon, ending their more than a year-long dispute that claimed two lives, following the intervention of the community.
Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, the commander of the Army’s 1102nd Infantry Brigade, identified the families involved as those of Pajid Yusop Ubaidulla and Rasmin Asara.
“This act of reconciliation is not a sign of weakness but of true courage. It takes more strength to forgive than to seek revenge,” Delos Santos said in a statement on Thursday.
He said the “rido” (clan war) between the two families traces back to the June 18, 2024 shooting incident in Barangay Kan-Bulak, Luuk, which resulted in the death of Nurikman Padjid.
On June 22 this year, an ambush in Barangay Kan-Asaali, Panamao, also led to the death of Asbi Mallah and the wounding of two others who are relatives of the Asara family.
“The decision of the Ubaidulla and Asara families to sign the peace pact will be remembered by their children and grandchildren as the day they gave them a better future,” Delos Santos said.
“The successful settlement of the disputes of the two families also demonstrates that even deep-seated disputes can be resolved through dialogue, local leadership, and community cooperation,” he added.
Key local leaders and security officials witnessed the signing of the peace covenant in the second congressional district of Sulu. (PNA)