By Sam Ramos
Three long-standing family disputes, locally known as “rido,” were formally resolved in Tabuan Lasa, Basilan, through the facilitation of the military and the Municipal Government of Tabuan Lasa. The signing of peace agreements took place during a ceremony held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, in Barangay Bukut-umus, bringing an end to conflicts that had deeply affected the island town.
The first dispute involved the families of Rohong Mukabbil, Hadji Jaafar Jawalun, and Timhar Sawalun against the group led by Hadji Ansar Nurpsa and Hadji Jerry Danil. This conflict, believed to be tied to disagreements over fishing activities, included members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The second dispute featured tensions between the group of Nurpsa and Danil and the families of Abdulbasid Addulgani, Anteng Asil, Kailan Isdani, and Betong Asay, which were also linked to fishing-related disputes. The third resolved feud involved Asmi Sahiddi, Benji Saidil, and Ibni Saidil against Sakod Jamiri, Nasirin Juhuri, and Abdulgani.
As a testament to the commitment to peace, the settlement included the surrender of 12 firearms, comprising nine high-powered and three low-powered weapons. Among the surrendered items were a caliber .50 Barrett rifle, three Garand rifles, one M16A1 rifle, one improvised M-14 rifle, one M-79 grenade launcher, two shotguns, and three .45-caliber pistols. Tabuan Lasa Mayor Moner Manisan presented the firearms to Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade, and Basilan Governor Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman during the ceremony.
In his remarks, Brigadier General Luzon emphasized the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully, stating, “Peace and harmony are not the absence of conflict but the ability to resolve these conflicts peacefully. We, the Trajan troopers, promote the culture of dialogue to set an environment of understanding, which will allow us to resolve conflicts in peaceful means.”