Gov’t initiates peace talk for ‘warring’ Blaan clans...

Peace talks stressed to end ‘rido’ in Kimlawis – Combined government officials and authorities lead by (L-R) Davao Del Sur police director Sr. Supt. Ronaldo Llanera, 1002nd Army brigade commander Col. Marcos Norman Flores, Malungon municipal Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino of Sarangani Province, Davao Del Sur Governor Claude Bautista, and Kiblawan town Mayor Jaime Camanero initiated peace dialogue Tuesday in a bid to reconcile warring Blaan families, which have caused a cycle of killings in the past few months at the adjoining boundaries of Sarangani Province and Kiblawan town in Davao Del Sur.  (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE)

A call for peace in Kimlawis – Over 200 Family members to the slain victims of a warring Blaan tribe along the Sarangani and Davao Del Sur border convened Tuesday to attend a called for peace dialogue by the government in Kimlawis, Davao Del Sur.  The peace talks was held before the presence of (L-R) Davao Del Sur police director Sr. Supt. Ronaldo Llanera, 1002nd Army brigade commander Col. Marcos Norman Flores, Malungon town Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino of Sarangani Province, Davao Del Sur Governor Claude Bautista and Kiblawan town Mayor, Jaime Camanero. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

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KIBLAWAN, Davao Del Sur – A combined group of government officials, police and the military have called for a peace dialogue Tuesday, to all concerned families of the encircling Blaan communities whose family members had been victims of recent killings at the adjacent boundaries of Sarangani and Kiblawan, Davao Del Sur.

Malungon municipal Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino said the gathering of affected families was a government-initiated move to stop the rising clashes caused by  ‘ridos’ between the warring Blaan clans, which triggered brutal deaths to a number of innocent civilians in the past few months.

Rido is being described as a type of disagreement that is portrayed by sporadic outbursts of retaliatory violence between families and kinship groups, as well as among warring communities.

“I am looking forward that this peace effort will reap positive results, basing the sincerity and cooperation that I have seen on the faces of both parties concerned,” Constantino said. 

Gov. Claude Bautista of Davao Del Sur has also assured families of the slain victims, some sort of government assistance to somehow ease the pain of losing a dearly beloved one during the exchange of fires and retaliations. “But however, this does not mean to pardon and put aside, charges that were filed against the suspects before the court of laws," authorities explained. 

Police authorities said the recent attacks could have streaked from an earlier ‘ambush’ incident in Brgy. Kimlawis, which resulted to the untimely death of one Sonny Planda. The fatality was a son to then known Blaan bandit leader Gofenia Planda who surrendered sometime in 2004, and was later released after serving over two years of imprisonment. 

The incident was followed with the burning of at least five houses and an early morning attack by an armed group at the hinterland villages.

Military reports stressed at least ten armed men brandishing with M16 armalite riffles and shotguns, fired upon in two separate occasions,  a farmer identified as certain Santiago Marikit, 19, and Usman Labires, while both are working at their respective farmlands in sitio Banog.

Reports said one of the perpetrators even got a bolo, amputated Marikit’s left hand, and brought it with him back home. (Isagani Palma – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).