COTABATO CITY - The local government of Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao has urged the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles to support calls by the local officials to declare the town as Peace Zone.
Mayor Jacob Ampatuan of Raja Buayan, Maguindanao, said the declaration of the town as "Zone of Peace" would help fast tract development in the impoverished and underdeveloped town.
"Now that the recent conflict had been resolved peacefully, it would be best to sustain the momentum by declaring the town as peace zone," Ampatuan said.
The town council, on Tuesday, has passed a resolution declaring the town as peace zone after an armed family feud had been settled and ended with a ceremonial pledge by both sides to refrain from engaging in bloody fighting.
Aware of the benefits of the social contract, Ampatuan bowed to rally his people to support the social contract between civil society organizations and non government organizations in instituting reforms in the graft-ridden but resources rich Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Two weeks ago, more than 1,000 Moro individuals have fled their homes and moved to safer grounds after two warring village officials figured in a bloody skirmishes.
The rival village leaders, Duma Ugayan and Jerry Macalay, chairmen of Barangays Malipodok and Baital in Rajah Buayan town, respectively, swore over the Qur’an to “bury their hatchets” and reposition their respective followers away from populated areas affected by their firefights last week.
Ugayan and Macalay reconciled in a simple rite before Army and police officials, in a peace covenant signing initiated by Mayor Ampatuan.
Ampatuan said the two warring groups had been fighting over patches of lands in Raja Buayan.
Major General Rey Ardo, 6th Infantry Division chief, said he was elated that the two barangay chairmen have decided to end their animosity and vowed to support all peace efforts in the community.
He said, as peace advocate, he is always for the peaceful settlement of armed conflict in Maguindanao where people locked in family feud usually resort to armed confrontation. (PNA/PIA9-ZBST)
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