Preventing Ri Do

P r a c t i c a l G uide
A n d o t h er
l i c e a
for the Po eacekeepers
C o m m u n i t y P
A Publication of the Philippine National Police and The Asia Foundation
Supported by Australian Aid
acknowledgments
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without permission in writing
from the publisher. Inquiries should be addressed to The Asia Foundation at email tafphil@
asiafound.org. We are truly grateful to the following organizations and people for their vital contribution to this
endeavor to upgrade PNP capabilities on conIOict resolution:
This product is made possible by the generous support of the Australian Government. The
contents are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reIOect the views of the
Australian Government or The Asia Foundation. The Asia Foundation (TAF) and the Australian Government Aid Program for their technical and
funding assistance.
About The Asia Foundation
The PNP Directorates which reviewed the contents and format of this book:
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Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development
"$ # ,$&('#)&$&#&!'&''&( '')'("'"('( Directorate for Operations
"()&-/#*&""" +#"#!* #$!"(+#!"'!$#+&!"("*&#"!"( Directorate for Intelligence
"&#" ##$&(#""(#"#)&##'#&'"$&#''#" ,"$&#&!'
&!#"(+-'+"#)&''#"(")* #$!"('$) )'("(&*" Directorate for Police Community Relations
&#"#(+#& PNP Training Service

%)&(&""&"'#'#)"(#"+#&'(&#)"(+#&##'"
Salaam Police Center

'"#)"(&'""'"(#" #&"+($) "$&*($&("&'(#)"(#"
&*')""&#!*&'&#)$# (& "!) ( (& * #$!"("'#)"(#"' The police ofILcers who have shared their cases and provided insights on their rido experience in
#&$#&(#"'""*) '"+$&#*"& -! #""&($&#&!')$$#&("
&($&#&!')$$#&("'(&)((,(##'"#(&)(#" !(& '* )(#*& ! #" the ILeld:
PSSUPT Debold Sinas
About The Australian Government Aid Program

PSSUPT Nickson Muksan
PSSUPT Ildebrandi Usana
The objective of the Australian Government’s aid program is to assist developing countries PSUPT Imam Ebra Moxsir
reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. In the Philippines, Australia’s aid
program has an overarching objective to assist the Philippines to meet its development goals,
especially in reducing poverty, increasing economic growth, improving basic education, and To the Chief of the Philippine National Police, PDGEN Alan La Madrid Purisima for his
enhancing national stability and human security.
responsive and transformational leadership to upgrade the competence and skills of the men
and women of the PNP in conIOict management.
All rights reserved ©2013
Editorial Team:
And to Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil of the 2nd District of Pangasinan and member of the
PDIR Lina C. Sarmiento
PCSUPT Victor P. Deona House Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, for always upholding innovation in the PNP.
PSSUPT Benigno B. Durana, Jr
PSSUPT Benedicto Lopez
On behalf of the people of Mindanao and the Filipino nation, and the 148,000-strong PNP
PSSUPT Nickson Muksan across the archipelago, we thank you ALL for your investment of time, trust, capable
PCINSP Joseph Lofranco
Dr Cecilia Noble assistance and wisdom.
Wilfredo Magno Torres III
Nadine Siriban-Ragonjan
Hamidullah Atar -The Editorial Board and Staff
Henry Martin
Jeremy Dellosa
Graphic Designer: Dennis Balbaboco

message
Republic of the Philippines
NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF, PNP
Camp Crame, Quezon City
I am honored to have witnessed the signing of the Framework Agreement between GPH-
MILF at the Malacanang Palace last October 15, 2012. As Committee Member of the Peace,
Reconciliation and Unity Committee of the House of Representatives, this is a very good sign of
Foreword progress and that parties and stakeholders involved are on the right path towards enduring peace
and sustained progress in Mindanao.
The publication of the book “Preventing Rido: A Practical Guide for the Police and Other
Community Peacekeepers” comes at a very opportune time as the Philippine National As a police officer for half of my life, I know how important it is for the men and women of
Police trains its strategic focus on five individual organizational aspects for development as the PNP to have conflict management knowledge and skills in their ‘toolbox.’ Preventing and
encapsulated in CODE-P: by enhancing personnel Competence; undertaking Organizational resolving conflicts are the twin businesses of the police station and they cannot ignore them if
reforms; instilling individual and institutional Discipline; promoting personal and organizational
they are to be relevant and effective in their respective areas of responsibility (AOR).
Excellence; and developing Professionalism among the police ranks.
Policing in the 21st century demands from our policemen among others, not only the knowledge I have been Chief of Police of Cotabato City and have encountered the thorny problem of rido or
in law enforcement and crime fighting, but also the ability to be peacemakers as well, especially clan-feuding. The experience of having comrades fall in the field because of the conflict of a few
in the communities where they serve. It is important for every Police Officer to undertake has haunted me forever. Some have been unwittingly victimized while some blindly followed
intercultural education and capacity building in order to gain more knowledge, shed long- held and ignored consequences. Indeed, police officers have to be educated on the complexities of
biases and improve their skills thus, becoming highly competent conflict managers. This book rido and be trained how to address conflicts that takes into consideration political, religious and
is our reference toward that end. cultural sensitivities.
As the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
move forward in giving substance to the Framework Agreement on the peace process that the I gladly welcome this important achievement of developing a handbook on rido that is for the
parties have signed on October 15, 2012, we encourage our police officers to take the high road specific use of the police and from it learn how to engage other community peacekeepers. I
by actively resolving conflicts in their communities in Mindanao. If we can prevent the clan- enjoin all police officers to read this handbook and pass on the knowledge to others. I further
based conflicts from going out of hand and intersecting with more violent forces, we can help guarantee that serious reading and heart-felt understanding of the concepts will serve multiple
ensure that all parties concerned remain in the path towards peace, reconciliation and unity. “Ang purposes in operations, intelligence, investigation and PCR work. Learn how to document your
problema ng rido ay hindi dapat ipinagwawalang-bahala, sa halip ay hinaharap nang may own experiences and share best practices to others. We all can learn from each other.
malalim at makatotohanang pang-unawa at tunay na pagmamalasakit.”
Bear in mind that those who never stop learning, never stop improving!
We are grateful to The Asia Foundation, the Australian International Agency for Development
and Lingkod Bayani Network for their support to this publication.
Mabuhay at itaguyod po natin ang kapayapaan sa ating sambayanan!
“Para sa serbisyong makatotohan na nagsusulong ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa Mindanao
at sa buong sambayanang Pilipino.” Ang
g inyong
y g Lingkod
g ng
g Bayan,
y ,
LEOPOLDO
L OPOLDO N. BATAOIL
LE BAATAOIL
ALAN
AL
LAN N LA A MADRID PURISIMA
Representative,
tative
ve,
e 2nd District of Pang
Pangasinan
n asinan
Director
Police D General
irector Gene
onveno
Lead Convenor,or,
rL inngk
g od B
Lingkod ayyan
a i Network
Bayani
Chief,
Chie
ef, PNP
f P NP
table of contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword Chief PNP Alan La Madrid Purisima
Message Honorable Leopoldo N Bataoil
Chapter I | Introduction ................................................................03 Scenario #2: What if you are approached by two families who are
both your friends?
Case #2: The Neutral Stance ....................................................... 58
Chapter II | What is Rido? .............................................................08 Scenario #3: What if you are a police officer who has rido in
What makes rido a very serious peace and order problem? your own family?
Definition, causes, aggravating factors and implications Case #3: The Rido between the Muksan and Sahidullah Clans . 60
How is rido resolved? Clan conflict resolution and its cultural Scenario #4: How do you intervene if you are a Police Officer
considerations ................................................................12 and an Imam at the same time?
Case #4: Reflections of an Imam and Police Officer ................... 65
Case #5: Rido and the Response of the Cotabato
Chapter III | Understanding Conflict ..............................................22 Provincial Police Office ......................................... 68
What is conflict? Types, elements, violent conflict
How must you handle conflict: Life Cycle of Conflict, Conflict
Management concepts and skills Chapter VI | Case Studies..............................................................70
Scenario #5: What if you are asked to resolve a land dispute case?
Case #6. Kandori for Land Dispute Resolution ............................ 72
Chapter IV | Rido Prevention and Resolution Toolkit......................30 Scenario #6: How does slander hurt a Maranaoan’s maratabat (pride
Tool #1 – Rido Conflict Life Cycle Framework: How do you approach and honor)?
the different stages of the conflict and what tools should Case #6: Slander.......................................................................... 76
you use? When and How? ............................................ 31 Scenario #8: How do you engage the youth in conflict resolution?
Tool #2 – Conflict Mapping: How many conflicts are there and Case #8. Rido Resolution Involving the Youth and the Police ...... 78
how do you prioritize? ............................................. 34 Scenario #9: How do you use salsillah or genealogies to
Tool #3 – Political Mapping: How do you contextualize settle a rido? ...................................................... 80
the problem? ........................................................ 39 Case #9. Rido conflict resolution through Salsillah or
Tool #4 – Mediation: How do you confront feuding parties and offer Genealogies
win-win solution? .......................................................... 41
Chapter VII | Summary and Quicklist of Steps..............................84

Chapter V | Engaging Rido ...........................................................48 References .................................................................92
Scenario #1: What if you are new in the area and it is your first time Annexes .................................................................94
to encounter rido? Annex 1. Directory of Resources
Case #1: Pikit, North Cotabato Case .......................................... 52 Annex 2. Documenting your Rido Case
CHAPTER I | introduction
A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 1

CHAPTER I | INTRODUCTION
Rido (as the Maranaos refer to it) or clan wars have a variety of names: Tausugs call it
pagbanta while Tagalogs refer to it as ubusan ng lahi. Although the different groups
use different names, all have the same tragic end – the extra-judicial use of violence
that seeks blood and revenge.
Rido has caused much death and destruction and retarded economic, political, and
social development of the comsunities affected by it. The most affected are the
young who are raised into a life of violence and conflict.
The typical consequences of rido are criminality, violence, and disrespect

for law and order. These effects tend to increase illiteracy and poverty
(by Caris, 1992).
As peacekeepers, policemen and policewomen have a duty to uphold the law. Most
of them however, would admit they tend not to intervene with feuding clans,
mediating only occasionally when rido reaches a critical point that affects the entire
community and those adjoining it. History has shown that when left unchecked
rido could result in decades of violence, criminality and collateral damage to property
and innocent bystanders. This phenomenon is not limited to Mindanao, but
because of the Moro conflict in the southern island, the dramatic and far-reaching
outcomes of rido are more emphasized. There is, in fact, evidence of a linkage
between rido and the Moro separatist rebellions of the 1970s and the late 1990s.
Left unchecked, rido can be a major catalyst for the spread of lawlessness in many
localities that will lead to, among other things, unnecessary police and civilian
fatalities. One example of the former is the tragic story of Maguindanaoan
Police Senior Inspector (PSI) “Elias”, who saw in his police career a promising path
away from poverty and violence. After graduating from the Philippine National
Police Academy, PSI Elias quickly petitioned for an assignment in his hometown
with high hopes of reform and a zealous spirit of transformation. That was
until November 23, 2009 when he became one of the hundreds of policemen
unwittingly used by the warring Mangudadatu and Ampatuan families in their
2 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 3

rido. PSI Elias has since been implicated along with 62 other police officers, for
allegedly being involved in the infamous “Maguindanao Massacre.” He now How to use this Handbook?
languishes in a PNP detention center charged with multiple counts of murder.
His wife had asked for an annulment. Meanwhile, some of the family members This handbook has been designed to assist police officers in understanding,
of the politicians whom he obeyed and loyally served still roam their province. mitigating and preventing conflict, particularly rido or clan feuding. The
approaches and activities outlined in this manual explore the tools that may
What this handbook is trying to say is that we can prevent the fate of PSI Elias be used to address conflict in its various stages and complexities.
from happening to others in the police force. This handbook will show some
of the more innovative and effective solutions that can diminish the frequency and It is a reference for staff capacity strengthening for conflict management and
scale of rido. In collaboration with The Asia Foundation, the Philippine National a toolkit enhancing police community relations in conflict-afflicted areas. It
Police offers this research-based and proven strategy that involves the rapid is also a facilitator’s guide in organizing and managing peace committee
mobilization of civil society groups, with local police stations playing a central meetings or pulong-pulong.
role in implementing innovative, demand-driven programs to preempt or defuse
rido. Many of these programs will not involve arrests although these are also It is a handbook for the police officer as he performs his role as Chief of
interventions that cannot be implemented without the involvement of the police. Police, Police Community Relations Officer (PCR), Investigator, Operations
Officer and First Responder.
The Asia Foundation’s eight years of research into the symptoms and remedies of rido
has demonstrated that this strategy is adaptable to a range of complex conflicts in The prescribed guidelines in this handbook are subject to existing PNP
the various provinces and localities in Muslim Mindanao. These conflicts range from rules and regulations and shall observe PNP Operational Procedures.
Muslim-Christian animosities; interethnic violence; clan feuding between local Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF); political
rivalries; and conflicts caused by bombing and kidnap-for-ransom criminal acts.
Given the fateful events of the “Maguindanao Massacre”, and the momentum that
was initiated by the 2012 Bangsamoro Framework Agreement, the Philippine
National Police prescribes this handbook to all police officers so that they are
better equipped to perform their role as law enforcers and, more importantly, as
! Rido has wider implications for
conflict in Mindanao primarily because
peace builders. of the tendency for it to interact in
unfortunate ways with separatist conflict
and other forms of armed violence.
"
CHAPTER II | What is Rido?

Chapter II | What is Rido? J,&Q)%RS,)&1 DE D><<
Rido, or feuding between families and clans, is a type of conflict characterized by !"#9)%%"$%KQ),%B)("',.)( DM L>P=
sporadic outbursts of retaliatory violence between families and kinship groups as
well as between communities. It can occur in areas where government or a central 7)N1 D< L>E<
authority is weak and in areas where there is a perceived lack of justice and security.
T'(8$)(( DD L>;=
As the terms from other dialects indicate, rido is not simply a Muslim Filipino
phenomenon. Clan feuds have been observed in Muslim, non-Muslim, and O8(."$6'.1 DL L>CE
heterogeneously populated areas.
J&#N@8$G P L>CD
Rido occurs mainly in areas where the local government or the central authority is
weak. These are also the same areas characterized by a pervasive lack of justice and +&#8@/%+)'6 E L>=M
security. In some instances therefore warring groups could include political rivals.
U86$&9%*",%B&$("# E L>=M
Table 1. Causes of rido
F#N'(S = L>:M
!"##"$%!&'()(%"*%!"#$ +,)-')$./ 0),.)$1%234 !&,$&998$G < L>DM
5&$6%78(9'1) :;: <=>:; ?V1",%"$ < L>DM
?@).%"$AB)@&1)6 <CC DE>D Source: ridomap.com, 2012
!,8#)%FG&8$(1%H"#)$%I%J)$6),AB)@&1)6%K%)$()( DED D<>:D There are a variety of stimuli associated with rido as shown in Table 1. However,
these are stimuli which, when aimed deliberately or accidentally at a rival family /
7,'G%B)@&1)6 :L <>LM kinship / clan / ethnic group and there is a perceived lack of justice, result in rido.
Land disputes, political power, and gender-related offenses were leading stimuli of
F..86)$1( <M D>C: rido and together accounted for over 55% of total incidents in 2012.
!&,&N&"%I%!&%@)%B'(1@8$G << D>=
Montillo-Burton et al further describe some of the general categories of stimuli
O&,,8&G)%I%?@"9)#)$1 <L D>:C listed in Table 1 in the following ways:
D>% Land disputes (25% of all incidents in 2012) typically occur be-
J,'6G) DP D><P
cause of a lack of documentation (unmarked property boundaries, wills,
F..'(&%"$ DE D><< deeds or land titles). The usurpation by rich heirs over land or encroach-
ment stimulates rido.

<>% Election related events (18% of all incidents in 2012) include elec-
tioneering, vote buying, flying voters and other election related anomalies.
:>% Gender related offenses (13%) include eloping, wife grabbing,

acts of lasciviousness, rape (including statutory), illegitimate pregnancy
and other crimes against chastity.
M>% Theft (2%) of another clan’s possessions, including carnapping,

carabao and cattle rustling, and competition over a clan’s legitimate or per-
ceived resources.
=>% Graft and corruption (less than 1%) cases which primarily center
on the malversation of public funds particularly from the Internal Revenue
Allotment (IRA) of local governments.
C>% Use or trafficking of illegal drugs, drunkenness, gambling (3%).
Figure 1
7. Maratabat-related (less than 1%) cases ranging from displays DAMAY-DAMAY NA
of superiority complex and arrogance (kibr), the domination of one party
over another, a lack of regard for others, enmity, envy or jealousy, and of- Aggravating factors and Implications of Rido on Peace
fenses to honor.1 Rido tied to these activities are often, though not exclu- in Mindanao
sive, to adherents of Islam, and can be between religious groups.
Clan conflicts are seldom confined to one area. Often, families involved in feuds
8. Ignorance or disregard of ethics and religious law (less than can call on their relatives in other places for assistance, and in most instances, to
1%). Again rido tied to these activities are often, though not exclusive, to provide the necessary muscle in the ongoing feud. Due to the proliferation of
adherents of Islam, and can be between religious groups. firearms in the communities, minor arguments can lead to murder. Other kin can
also exacerbate the already problematic situation through their words and actions.
Further, the slow response and/or failure of the local police to solve criminal cases
1 An expanded meaning of the Arabic word maratabat (or pride in lineage) which also means to the satisfaction of the aggrieved party can also lead to retaliation. It gets worse
“rank to rank sensitivity; status to status seeking; and prestige to prestige enhancement (Matuan, 2004).
when authorities are perceived to be taking sides.
It is anchored on a belief that family interest and honor should be rst which often serves as an ideology
that guides an action of a citizen in community. Thus demeaning a person’s maratabat (or family honor or
pride in a very loose de nition) is the most rampant single known cause of rido among the Maranaos. The In general, rido is aggravated by alliances formed by principals with other families
retaliatory nature of rido and the observance of maratabat go hand and hand. It is part of the observance
of the social structure and the social positions of the Maranao culture. A person ghting for his marata- and armed groups. Rido is also escalated when the hostilities interact with social
bat can only be stopped if a local government chief, religious leader or a law enforcer intervenes. This problems like banditry and, more importantly, with the conflict between the MNLF
intervention allows him to stop retaliatory attacks without losing face for not avenging the insult on his
maratabat. Respect for authority is considered honorable and is a gesture that is acceptable within the and the MILF at one end and the government at the other.
maratabat culture.

According to Torres, the “proliferation of firearms, the lack of law enforcers and culturally accepted and found to be very effective, that municipal clerks of court,
credible mediators in conflict-prone areas, and an inefficient justice system the police and the military highly recommend it to settle long-standing disputes.
all contribute to rido (Torres, 2007 ). Because of all this, rido has a profound Amicable settlement, on the other hand, is done outside the courtroom. Its aim is
implication on the search for lasting peace in Mindanao because of its tendency not to determine which party is wrong or right but to settle the conflict in a manner
to interact in unfortunate ways with other conflicts and disrupt the peace process. acceptable to the contending parties. The result is a “win-win” situation.
If the police take their active role in preventing these local conflicts, they can help
ensure that all parties and stakeholders concerned remain in the path towards Other Strategies in Settling Rido
peace, reconciliation and unity.
Moro clan conflict resolution employs several peacemaking strategies. These, along
with the skills of the mediators, lead to successful settlement.
How is rido resolved?
Despite its complexity, generations of Moro cultures have dealt with rido through Giving of blood money. Accordingly, engaging in rido is a very expensive
formal courts, violence, leaving the matter to God/Allah, or through amicable or enterprise and only those who have the resources can sustain it. In the same
extra-judicial settlement. On the other hand, peacemakers and conflict managers manner, resolving rido can be costly. Resolution can take years and exact a
have used both formal and non-formal structures in dealing with clan conflicts. tremendous price on conflicting parties as well as mediators. The giving of “blood
They have also used traditional and/or modern methods in resolving rido. Lately, money” is often, if not always, a part of clan conflict settlement, especially if the
what has been observed to be more effective in bringing a lasting resolution are conflict has led to several deaths. Blood money is an accepted means to exact
hybrid mechanisms or a mix of traditional and modern approaches in conflict retribution and appease the aggrieved party.
resolution. The following are some of these tried and tested approaches.
“The amount of blood money can vary depending on the nature of the
dispute, the number of deaths, and the socio-economic status of the
Mediation and Amicable Settlement parties. The amount usually results from the negotiations between the
mediator and the parties involved. In some areas, the amount of blood
Mediation is the most popular means of peacefully resolving a rido. Mediation is money is based on the ordinances enacted by the local government.
essentially a dialogue between two warring families with the involvement of a third In one municipality in Basilan, the prescribed amount is P120,000. The
party who has limited or no authoritative decision-making power. The mediator amount can be reduced depending on the case. Among the Maranao,
merely assists the involved parties to voluntarily reach a mutually acceptable the usual amount exacted is P120,000 for every casualty. In Lanao del
settlement of the issues in dispute. Apart from addressing substantive issues, Sur, any injury that results in blood loss, even if just a drop, costs P50,000.
mediation is also a means of building trust between the conflicting parties. It is The requirement of blood money, however, can also hamper settlement
especially critical in societies where honor or pride is given very high regard. whenever the concerned party cannot pay, especially when huge amounts
are called for. Some mediators prefer settlement without blood money.
Face to face negotiations are often extremely difficult. An intermediary is needed According to them, there is no guarantee that violence will stop with the
to separate the parties and work out an acceptable arrangement that preserves payment of blood money, especially on the part of those who can afford
honor for both sides. Settlement of clan conflicts among the different ethnic groups to pay (Torres, 2007).
covered by this study most often than not made use of mediation. This strategy is

Signing of settlement agreements. There are settlements that require the signing of also included, especially for conflicts that result in damage to property and
formal written agreements. Often, these are instruments facilitated by the police, the physical injury.
military or the local government. This is a common practice in Sulu. In most areas,
however, people believe that the presence of witnesses is enough to seal an agreement. • Penalty clause. Sanctions for violations of the agreement are specified.
This explains the dearth of documentation on conflict resolution in Mindanao. Violations are to be dealt with accordingly, including military action against
the party concerned.
A settlement agreement written in English and translated into the local
language, may contain the following: • Binding of the agreement with the witnesses. The parties issue a statement
binding them to the agreement in the Name of the Almighty Allah. Through
• Quotations from the Holy Qur’an. On top of the written agreement, relevant this gesture, the parties are made brothers again in Islam.
verses from the Holy Qur’an enjoin the parties to reconcile. An example is
the quotation “Believers are but a single brotherhood: so make peace and Clan organizing
reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that Traditional leaders and civil society groups often resort to clan organizing, a
ye may receive mercy.” (Holy Qur’an S 49, A 10). traditional yet potent tool in appeasing feuding clans and resolving conflicts. At
the heart of this age-old approach is informing and reminding feuding parties
• Names of the parties involved. The names of the parties are indicated, along that they come from the same forefathers and because they are blood-related they
with their addresses. In some cases, only the names of representatives of the should not harm, much worse, kill each other.
parties appear. In Lanao del Sur, the names of all immediate members of the
family are included. Among the Maranao, the names of children still in their Clan organizing invokes cultural values and upholds family ties against brewing anger
mothers’ wombs are sometimes included. This is to avoid rekindling of the and violence. For example, in the Maranao culture, there are several core values that
feud by the unborn child in the future. Parents are given the option to commit regulate human relations to include the following: kapamagogopa (mutual assistance),
their unborn child to the settlement. Otherwise, upon reaching the right age, katetebanga (communal reciprocity), kapoporaowa-e (prestige or being held in esteem),
the child must decide whether or not he/she accepts the settlement. A kanduri kapamagongowa (being valued), kasesela-e (giving due recognition), kapamagadata
is held wherein elders explain the issue to the young person including the (giving due respect), and kapamagawida (mutual support). Accordingly, violators of
stimulations contained in the agreement in an effort to maintain the peace. the long-held taritib and ijma (social conduct and ethics) are subject to wrath from
the unseen supernatural powers of gapen (black magic), na-as (bad luck), songkor
• Names of the mediators and negotiators. Mediators and other key personalities (destruction) and begaw (disease due to curse). Families normally do not want to suffer
and organizations instrumental in the settlement are acknowledged. the dreadful consequencess hence, they tend to go with the flow of clan organizing.
• Expression to settle voluntarily. Both parties express their consent to achieve Operationally, clan organizing is a tedious task. It requires the understanding of
reconciliation between their families and relatives and forget everything and support from family, members and clan leaders. Activities include identification
related to the conflict. of potential family and clan leaders, skills enhancement, monitoring work,
strengthening relationships, establishing linkages and networking, transfer of
• Cost of the settlement. The amount of blood money involved in the settlement knowledge and skills, recognizing grassroots sentiments, systematizing traditional
may be indicated. Other forms of compensation and arrangements are leadership and Salsilah-making.

Salsillah-making
Salsillah means genealogies and is thus the main output of clan organizing. This
is a traditional technology adapted by Reconciliatory Initiatives and Development
Opportunities, or RIDO Inc., a civil society organization specializing in rido conflict
resolution. Since its inception five years ago, RIDO has researched and organized
seven (7) major clans in Lanao del Sur. These clans trace their lineage from the
Sultanate of Marawi composed of three major clans namely: Sidikadatu, Maruhom
Sidik and Balindong Jaman; Sultanate of Madaya with two major clans such as Sarip
Batua and Datu A Petheelan; Bae sa Radapan, Tara Clan, Macabago Clan, Pinagundo
Clan and Denian Rengko.
Based on RIDO, Inc. experience, an average clan that it has organized has about
80,000 individual family members. Salsillah or genealogy-tracing begins with
identifying potential leaders who are influential in conflict resolution and other
peace interventions in Lanao. They are engaged in research and development of
clan profiles. They assist in the conduct of interviews because people generally
trust them and disclose information through them. The collated data are validated
several times over with representatives from the elders of each clan to ensure
genuine affiliation. When rido conflicts arise, these data bases are consulted to
see if the feuding parties are blood-related. When information on blood relations
are presented to the concerned parties, they become sober and open-minded.
Feuding families are then informed and constantly reminded that they are blood-
related and therefore they should not fight each other because they are not only
harming one family. Instead they should be working together to build the family
for future generations.
Overall, these are the more common traditional methods used in settling clan-
feuds. They help ensure a “win-win” solution for all parties involved in a rido
where mediators play important roles for their success. In most Moro cultures,
the more effective mediators are neutral families, called sukudan, who are
connected to both parties. The traditional or local leaders in the community
are also effective depending on the degree of their integrity and personal
background.

Terms to remember and consider:
Thothonganaya (Kinship System) with the complainant who is entitled to present witnesses, and the defendant
who is entitled to swear before God.
The Thothonganaya or mbatabata’a is the kinship system, which partly governs
the day to day lives of the Moro. This particular set-up oftentimes requires members Montillo-Burton et al describes the procedure:
to render aid and services among kindred families. In the case of rido, if one family “at the outset, the complainant has the prior right and responsibility to
was aggrieved, the whole clan should take up the cause and help or even retaliate present at least two competent and credible witnesses. If the complainant
for the sake of one family. This strong and solid family structure is sometimes more cannot produce the required witness or his witnesses are either
powerful than the formal structures of the community: the barangay or the agma incompetent or not credible or both, the burden of proof shifts to the
(Maranao community system), (Matuan, 2006). respondent who can swear before God in the presence of the Qur’an that
he is innocent of the charges. Under the law, one witness is equivalent
Because of this inherent power and clout on the clan, the kinship system is to two female witnesses. In the course of the trial, the engaged counsels
often used to solve rido. Relatives (non-hostile) are often sought to intervene assist the parties in every stage of the proceedings.”
and mediate between parties which are involved in conflicts.
Diat (Blood Money)
Taritib Ago Igma (System of Penalties and Consequences).
Diat (blood money) is usually one of the gravest punishments for crimes
Taritib (Penalties) and Igma (Consequences) are derived from the Arabic terms associated with rido. Any killing is often compensated with diat and ranges
(Taritib and ijma) with the same meanings. After a trial, the kali subscribes to from Php 50,000.00 to Php 140,000.00.
this system to seek out necessary punishment to compensate any loss of one
party to another. Diat is not the monetary equivalent of one’s life but is often necessary as
settlement money is part of the healing process between families and should
Burton et al. identified some of the tiratibs and igmas: kitas (execution), diat be seen for its symbolic elements that lead to forgiveness and healing.
(blood money), sapa (swearing not to repeat an offense), sapot (wearing white
cloth), letakan (lashing), rajam (stoning), kandori (reprimand), rila (forgiveness), The practice of giving diat (blood money) or indemnification for crimes
taog (deportation, exile and excommunication), doro (compensatory damages) committed goes against the formal law of the state. But it is necessary in the
and pamamanikan (the offender goes to the house of the aggrieved for culture of the citizens of Mindanao.
repentance and surrender).
Kanduli (Community Thanksgiving Celebration)
Justice is served if the penalties and consequences are equal to the offense
that was committed. The trial of a rido usually ends in a Kanduli (thanksgiving celebration). Food
and sometimes even money, is offered to those who are in attendance. Prayers
Kali (Judge and Jury) to seek blessing and swearing in the Qur’an highlight the celebration led by
traditional religious leaders (imams). Ceremonies are usually solemn at the
A kali is a local judge who is fair, impeccable in character and knowledgeable start of the celebration and merry in the end.
on the aspect of the taratib ago igma. The procedure of trial usually starts After the kanduli, everybody goes back to their normal way of life.

CHAPTER III | Understanding Conflict

Chapter III | Understanding Conflict A strategic way of visualizing violent conflict is through the use of the Conflict Life
Cycle Framework. Below is an illustration of life cycle and from it we can see that
Conflict is a fact of life because no two individuals think alike. Conflict between there are different stages and elements in a conflict. Moreover, violent conflict may
individuals or groups of people is a manifestation and expression of differences take a different slope depending on how the stages develop.
or incompatibilities. It should not necessarily end in violence because there are
peaceful ways of handling conflict. Hence, it is important to approach conflict What are the stages of conflict? The above life cycle is based on the view that
from a development management or managerial view. This way we will not be conflicts change over time; hostilities emerge, grow and abate. It is important to
overwhelmed by the the intensity of the warring parties, and be able to deal with remind ourselves that we must view conflict as having a beginning and an end.
conflict objectively and efficiently. This way we have a sense of hope that something can be done to solve this problem.
Conflict is defined as a clash between individuals arising out of a difference in thought What are the elements of conflict to consider?
processes, attitudes, understanding, interests, requirements and even sometimes
perceptions. A conflict results in heated arguments, physical abuses and definitely loss D>% The substantive issues in contention or the interests at stake like natural
of peace and harmony. resource competition, government control, territorial control, avenging
tarnished honor.
What is violent conflict? <>% Parties involved: ethnic and religious groups, regional communities,
governments, political factions.
This publication concerns itself with violent conflict which can lead to harmful :>% Types of coercion used: gross human rights violations, harassment
consequences and the best example of which is rido. M>% Geographic scope or arena of the violence and destruction
=>% Stage the conflict is in and the influential actors who can tip the balance,
Violent conflict is associated with actions, words, attitudes, structures or systems make the parties listen to and help resolve it
that cause physical, psychological, social or environmental damage. Conflicts
become violent when parties try to dominate or destroy the opposing parties’ What factors can bring about crisis in a conflict situation?
ability to pursue their own interests. These interests may be over resources (land,
money), power (electoral position), identity, status, values (ideology), etc. These D>% The intensity and number of grievances.
are the common problems in violent conflicts surrounding rido. <>% The parties’ awareness of their differences; perceptions and attitudes
towards each other.
Figure 1. Conflict Life-Cycle and Ways of Resolving Conflict :>% The intensity of the emotional and psychological investment by the
parties on the conflict.
M>% The amount of direct interaction and communication between the
parties involved in the conflict.
=>% The level of political mobilization and organizational capacities of the
parties involved in the conflict.
C>% The strength of the unity between the respective parties’ leaders and
their constituencies.

;>% The amount of hostile behavior. Conflict Management
E>% The extent that parties use or threaten to use arms.
P>% The number of parties supportive of each side. Conflicts must be prevented at the right time in order to avoid tensions and other
adverse effects. In such a scenario, conflict management and conflict resolution
These factors can be analyzed as the first step to determining ways of stopping rido come in the picture.
from worsening.
Conflict management involves the steps undertaken to prevent the
Basically, the elements, the factors and most especially, the actors in a conflict conflict at the right time and also helps to resolve it in an effective and
dictate the movement of the slope in the life cycle. It is important to note that smooth manner. No conflict can just start on its own. There has to be an
the slope does not necessarily go down. This is where peace makers, mediators event or an incident to trigger the same. Through conflict management,
or conflict managers matter most because they influence de-escalation and/or the one actually finds out the possible events which can start a conflict and
final resolution to the conflict. We shall learn more about conflict management in tries his level best to avoid them.
the next section. Conflict resolution consists of methods and processes involved in facilitating
the peaceful ending of conflict. Often, committed group members attempt
to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their
!
conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of the group (e.g., intentions;
Understanding where a conflict reasons for holding certain beliefs), and by engaging in collective negotiation.
[1] Ultimately, a wide range of methods and procedures for addressing
falls in the cycle is essential to conflict exist, including but not limited to, negotiation, mediation, diplomacy,
and creative peacebuilding.
developing effective strategies for
intervention, crisis management, and
Conflict management plays a very important role in preventing hostilities among
for controlling violence. It is also individuals. How does a conflict arise? When individuals strongly oppose each
other’s opinions and ideas, the probability of a conflict arises. A conflict starts
critical to determining the best timing when individuals think on different lines and find it very difficult to accept each
"
other’s ideas. Conflict must be avoided as it destroys the peace, lowers the
of those strategies (Lund, 1996).” productivity as well as demotivates the individuals. All the factors leading to
a fight must be explored and efforts must be made to prevent a conflict from
developing. A conflict is not very easy to control; an individual needs certain
skills to deal with it effectively and efficiently.

Conflict Management Skills/Requisites influenced. Always follow your instincts and support what is right. Be very sensible
and patient. Learn to keep a control on your emotions. Do not ever lose your temper
as it would only make the situation worse.
1 | Effective communication Skills 5 | Neutrality or Impartiality
Effective communication skills are of utmost importance in conflict prevention.

While interacting with others, you have to take sincerely in mind your choice of An individual has to be impartial to avoid conflicts. Do not always support your
words and the way you speak. Never ever shout at anyone, even if you do not agree friend. Stand by what is correct and never support what is wrong. Any individual,
with him. Always speak in a firm but polite and convincing manner. Greet others even if he is your friend must be corrected if you feel he is wrong. Listen to everyone
with a warm smile. It works, everytime. Be very specific and precise in your speech. and never ignore anyone just because you don’t know him.
Do not use complicated words that may confuse others. Keep your tongue in check
and do not use words which might hurt the sentiments of others. Avoid using
6 | Never Criticize
abusive languages and practice verbal discipline.
Make the other person understand if he is wrong. Do not criticize openly as it would
2 | Listening Skills
definitely hurt people’s pride and sentiments. The other person might not be as
We have two ears and one mouth, so that we would listen more and speak less. An intelligent as you are, but you have no right to make fun of him. Others will look up
individual must not give his expert opinion until and unless he is very clear what to you if you guide the other person well and make him realize his mistakes.
the other person wants. Always be a good listener. Don’t just jump to conclusions
and assume things on your own. Always listen to the other side of the story as well.
7 | Positive Attitude
3 | Discussion
Positive attitude is essential to avoid fights and conflicts. In offices, never ever play
Do not follow the rumor mills blindly and never discuss conflict issue with others the blame game. No one is perfect and if you have done anything wrong, have the
just for the sake of making conversations. Only those with direct participation in courage to accept it. Human beings are bound to make mistakes but never try to
the conflict should be part of the discussion. Involved participants must give their put the blame on anyone else’s shoulders. Avoid backbiting as it only spoils the
inputs and efforts must be made to find out an alternative. Consult the members relationships. If you don’t agree with anyone’s views, discuss with him personally,
involved and never ignore anyone as it would never solve the problem. Everyone he will like it. Don’t always find faults in others and be a little more adjusting as life
has a right to express his views and a middle way has to be found. is all about adjustments.
4 | Patience
One needs to be very patient to avoid conflicts. There would be people at your
workplace and even home who would try to provoke you to fight. Never ever be

CHAPTER IV | rido tool kit
28
Chapter IV | Rido Prevention Tool Kit Application - Let us apply the tools to rido conflicts.
Tool # 1: Applying the Rido Conflict Life Cycle Framework

Conflict management tools help us understand the dynamics of rido conflict. In this
Chapter, we will learn to apply the concepts learned in the previous chapters and explore The Rido Conflict Life Cycle Framework is a snapshot that reminds conflict managers
appropriate tools that may be used in each of the different stages of violent conflict. It that “at all times it is important to know who to involve at the different stages of the
helps to know that there are tried and tested tools that can be used to prevent rido. resolution process and when they should be involved.”
The first tool is the Rido Conflict Life Cycle Framework adapted from the Curve
of Conflict of the United States Institute for Peace that enables conflict managers to
better understand conflict and have a managerial grip on it. While rido resolution processes are a collective undertaking, care should
still be taken in determining who to involve at the appropriate phase of the
The second tool is conflict mapping that is conducted in two levels for the following conflict resolution process. For instance, involving politicians at the early
reasons: 1) to account for or make an inventory of rido cases in the community. This part of the negotiations would only create expectations among feuding
means we identify and count the number of rido and other conflicts in a locality parties for higher amounts of indemnification (i.e., blood money) because
or collect the same data from the local police station's area of responsibility; 2) to they know politicians have resources. When politicians become involved
conduct a careful study to determine which rido case to prioritze. This involves at the start, money becomes part of the solution. In the same fashion,
knowing the root causes of the conflict, the actors involved in the rido, their allies, prematurely involving officials of the armed forces or police in the process
neutral relatives, respected individuals, spoilers, their interests, etc. would only make reconciliations unsustainable as their presence sometimes
obliges disputants to agree on conditions for settlement out of fear and not
out of sincerity. When transient security forces leave, the feud will start again.
The third tool is political mapping. A "political map” can provide police officers Finally, while other actors may have their say in the negotiations, it must not
with an idea of the political and social context that define their area of operations be forgotten that at the core of this process are the feuding parties, whose
(AOR). Police officers must realize that the station's AOR is more than a physical, opinions and decisions matter most.
social and cultural entity. It is also a political unit that considers who the different
power players are in their locality.
The Conflict Life Cycle must be posted in the Police Station so it can be a reminder of
The fourth tool is mediation, which is further used at the crisis management and the clear and present danger that existing incidents of ridos pose to the community.
post-conflict stage. These four (4) tools are explained in detail in this chapter and Looking at it every day can help trigger creativity and foresight on what else can be
applied to actual cases in Chapters V and VI. done. It further helps to focus on critical areas and anticipate conflict for timely response.
Remember that a timely response to rido and other forms of violent conflict requires
determining in advance critical areas where contestations occur and monitoring
potential flashpoints. It is critical to anticipate flare-ups by closely watching
these flashpoints, conducting rapid assessments, and designing interventions in
advance to allow conflict mitigating groups to quickly respond in case outbreaks
of hostilities occur.

place to ensure that your institution reacts properly and orderly to an incident
as it occurs. Examples of incident responses include: evacuation after an
explosion, denial of entry to suspicious persons that may escalate the problem,
calling for medical help when someone is injured and similar situations that
require urgent action.
The police role is to de-escalate the conflict and contain violence so as to

prevent harm against people and properties. Nonetheless, it requires further
the help of other leaders in the community to manage the incident and the
crisis unfolding. Incident management refers to the sequence of actions
Figure 2. Rido Life Cycle of Conflict Map adapted from the Curve of Conflict by to be undertaken to mitigate the effects of attacks, including blasts and
Michael Lundt (1996) expediting the return to normalcy. In like manner, this involves partnership
among the security forces, local governments and the community. The local
Stage 1. Prevention chief executives take the lead role and perform such acts of leadership to
demonstrate control of the situation, care of victims, justice to bear on the
At the base of the curve (Figure 2) is peace time and the best time to do suspects, orderly deployment and employment of resources and to facilitate
preventive peacebuilding measures. Conflict managers should be very observant and disseminate correct information and advice on the incident. The police
of tensions and diffuse them before they escalate. Preventive diplomacy tools should help the Crisis Manager to get out of the “PANIC and FREEZE” mode
such as community partnerships or connections, community research or social and spring back to normalcy.
investigation and intercultural engagement (or being culture-sensitive in all your
dealings) is best applied during stable peace.
Crisis management can also refer to strategies used in the middle section of the
Stage 2. Crisis management includes efforts – to limit, contain, or resolve conflicts, conflict life cycle map; the point at which violence has erupted and reaches its peak.
especially violent ones. It is all about making decisions to head off or mitigate the At this point, it is important to find ways to de-escalate the situation and get the
effects of crisis, often while it is unfolding. This often means making decisions while crisis under control so that peace building efforts can take hold. Negotiation and
you are under stress and while you lack key pieces of information. The key to being mediation are some of the techniques used to de-escalate the conflict.
able to manage a crisis is doing as much planning as practical before a crisis starts in
order to best position you and the police station to respond to and mitigate such a Stage 3. Post-conflict peace-building. Even after the worst violence has
situation. It is best understood as part of a broad continuum of activities as follows: subsided, the long-term effort to rebuild a society and ensure lasting peace has
many important aspects. It can involve the implementation of agreements reached
• Planning. Planning relates to getting your institution in the best position to react by the parties in conflict, as well as broader efforts to reform or strengthen the
to, and recover from, an emergency. government and other institutions to ensure stability in the future. Post-conflict
measures can also encompass the rebuilding of damaged communities, and steps
• Incident Response. Incident responses are the processes that you have put into to promote justice in the aftermath of war.

Post-conflict peacebuilding, and stabilization and reconciliation, can refer to b. Important details of the incident? (date, time, places of the incident,
strategies used at the back-end of the conflict life cycle map. These policies are number of victims or casualties)
intended to promote a transformation to more manageable, peaceful relationships
and governance structures. It is also important over the long term that the different c. Impact (damage to community, burning of domestic and other structures,
groups in a country or region reconcile, moving from a divided, violent past to a displacement of people , loss of livelihood, etc.)
shared future.
Important question to ask oneself: Is there a sense of urgency or immediate need
in responding to the event or conflict?
Lubhang nakakapagod ang makipag-away kaya’t darating din ang oras
na gustong magpahinga ng mga nagbabangayan. Sa panahong ito, 2. Deepening Analysis of Causes. The following questions cannot be
dapat alerto ang pulis na isulong ang kapayapaan. answered immediately but the answers can become effective guides to our
interventions:
MORE TOOLS a. What is the conflict’s main trigger(s)? What caused or initiated the conflict
It is important to know your area of responsibility (AOR) and the communities in the community?
under it that have had rido. We must do a careful conflict analysis of each rido
case using conflict mapping and political mapping. These tools help assess and b. What are the root causes of, or underlying factors behind the conflict?
prioritize which rido to engage first and how to deal with it more effectively. The
tools also help in gathering allies in the community and in determining ways and c. What factors sustain the conflict?
the proper timing in engaging them in conflict.
d. Were there similar conflicts that happened in the past that may be related
Tool # 2 - Conflict Mapping to the current one?
Conflicts are dynamic systems and any intervention to resolve it becomes a part of
the system. So we should make sure that this is creative and elicits positive energies. e. Did the conflict catalyze or worsen other conflicts?
To do conflict analysis, we therefore must focus on: 1) verifying if we are dealing
with a conflict or several conflicts; 2) determining the conflict system boundaries 3. The Main Actors/ Parties in the Conflict
with the option of revising these later on; 3) then using conflict analysis tools (see
below) to focus on certain aspects of the conflict and organize the information a. Who are the main actors and/or parties involved in the conflict? What
necessary for its resolution. interests do they represent?
Some recommended steps on mapping conflict in your area. b. Who are these actors’/parties’ allies? What are these allies’ relationships to
the main protagonists? What are their interests?
1. Initial assessment of the conflict or situation
a. The incident/event/situation itself (flare ups, atrocities, inflammatory c. What are the possible “soft spots” of the contending actors or areas where
rumors, threats to communities, etc.) they would most likely cooperate because it is important to them?

d. Who are the potential spoilers in this conflict? Who stands to benefit most e. Is the conflict the result of intra-organizational differences (e.g., between
if this conflict is prolonged? stakeholders inside the MILF, the MNLF or other groups?)
e. Who are the possible people to approach toward engaging and possibly f. Is there policy conflict even at the local level like disagreements over the
resolving this conflict? Who are the right people to approach in gaining clarity recent GPH, MILF, and MNLF. Framework of Agreement?
about the conflict, in strategizing interventions, and in resolving the conflict?
g. Can responding teams access the conflict-affected areas or conflicting
4. The importance of generating accurate and timely information (Standard parties? What is the stage of the conflict? Is the conflict at the outset,
Operating Procedures for Assessing Information) escalating, stalemated, denouement, or in termination phase? Is the
conflict active/ongoing, latent, or recurring? What are the risks involved?
a. Who/what are the sources of information regarding the incident?
6. Basic questions relating to context which may not be answered
b. How was the information gathered? immediately but which the police and partners must note as they
conduct their interventions
c. Can we verify the incident from other sources (civil society partners, local
politicians or existing contacts in the area including security forces)? a. Who are the most powerful/ influential actors in the area?
d. Are there media reportage (on-line or not) on the conflict? b. Which actors are marginalized or excluded from local power?
e. Can we then triangulate these various sources of information with the data c. Do competing elite groups exist at the local level (e.g., an MNLF or MILF
we gathered in the field to come up with a clearer picture? unit in a locality controlled by one family)?
5. Determining the type of Conflict d. Describe the political networks of each elite faction. Is it based mainly on
family or clan relations? Or is it based on ethnicity or religion? What other
a. Is it connected to, affected by or has a role in the separatist and/or insurgent affiliations bind these factions together?
violence in your area of operation?
e. How stable are the political networks in the area? Do actors move between
b. Is the conflict caused by the rivalries between political and economic elites? patrons, or are the networks relatively fixed?
c. Is the conflict local or community-based, and is it over access, control and f. What role does government or military/police play in local power dynamics?
use of resources?
7. Actors and/or teams responding to the conflict
d. Is the conflict related to criminal activities like drug-trafficking, arms
trading, narco-politics, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, illegal logging, a. Are partners in the position to intervene? Do they have the capacity to
smuggling, human trafficking and illegal gambling? intervene and make the situation better? Are they willing to work with

c. What kinds of intervention are necessary? Are political interventions good
security forces when the need arises? What are their roles and their or bad in the sense that they can reduce or worsen conflict? Who benefits
relationship to the conflicting parties? What are their potential motivation from the intervention? Are the interventions political in nature?
and interest?
d. What role does government (military, police and civilian) play in these
b. What are their strategic advantages in mitigating the conflict? interventions?
c. Is there a clear expression of interest/ intent by the actors and sectors to be e. Is mitigation even possible? How do the responding teams propose to
involved in the conflict mitigation process? Do they understand the risks mitigate these risks? What are the avenues for conflict resolution outlined
and are they willing to engage the conflict despite the risks? by the responding team?
d. Is there a local champion or local champions from either or both sides or Inherent to the success of the rapid response program is a process that is systematic,
coming from members of the community, who are willing to be involved transparent, and inclusive where all voices of stakeholders are heard and given due
in solving the conflict? Are these champions considered neutral and/or consideration. But while we recognize the importance of inclusivity, we only involve
are well respected by parties concerned? key actors at the appropriate stage of the conflict resolution process.
8. Peace promoting factors. In cases where women are involved or are part of the conflict, the following points
must be considered: the interventions must always be gender sensitive and
a. What are the events, activities and practices that can bring together consider the welfare of women. In cases where there is sexual abuse, the intervention
people involved in conflict? What peace resources and mechanisms are must give justice, answer the needs of, and provide resolution to complaints of the
available in the community that can be used? aggrieved party (especially women/ girls)?
b. Are there humanitarian groups, development agencies and emergency To date, the most effective interventions have been concerted efforts that draw
response teams in the area and are they capable of dealing with conflict support from different key stakeholders to form a convergence of actors and
situations? initiatives (multi-sectoral engagements and multidisciplinary teams) that address
flare-ups or brewing conflicts.
9. Interventions to mitigate or resolve the conflict
a. Are there plans already laid out to de-escalate conflict and promote Tool #3 - Political Mapping
reconciliation? Who will lead the “intervention”? Why? In order to do a good political map it is essential to gather first your facts. Here is a
quick list of the information that you need about your AOR.
b. If there are no existing plans, how fast can the government (military, · Basic info on Municipality/ Barangays covered by the AOR
police and civilians) craft one together with other stakeholders and other o the overall population
influential players in the community? How fast can such plan be conceived o percentage of Muslims, Christians and Lumad in the AOR
and then implemented? o the kinds of conflicts in the AOR
o the presence of AFP/ PNP units in the AOR

o the presence of non state armedgroups
o the presence of peace promoting factors: Note that there are community
actors and structures that can be our allies or tools in controlling conflict
and improving relations, respectively. Often it is only a matter of detecting
these actors and facilitating positive relationships among them. These
actors and structures can be useful for police assigned in the area to
determine who their allies are and what mechanisms can be harnessed to
push forward with the conflict resolution.
After you have all the information that you need about your AOR, you
can now map out its political context. To assess local political dynamics, it
is important to begin with a simple political mapping of each barangay. In this
handbook, we use a graphic representation of local networks and relationships
between local actors, using an adaptation from a Venn or chapatti diagram.
The objective is to document the political actors and groups in the community and
map out their relationship with each other:
Figure 3
Tool # 4 - Mediation
How to do a political map? Mediation is a process in which a third party intervenes in a conflict, with the
1. Identify the main political actors and groups in the community, including consent of the parties in conflict. The aim is to facilitate a mutually acceptable
elites and non-elites; resolution. It is a facilitated collaborative problem-solving (Gregory Tillett, Resolving
2. Indicate the relative power or influence of various actors and groups. Conflict). Mediation works purely for facilitation purposes. The mediator plays no
3. Illustrate the political networks and rivalries at this level by indicating advisory role. Instead, he/she helps the parties develop a shared understanding of
the relationships between actors and/or groups – specifically whether the conflict and to work toward building a practical and lasting resolution. Finally
they are allies or rivals, and whether there are overlaps between different this approach encourages conflicting parties to focus on their interests, not on
groups (i.e., that some individuals are in two different groups) positions, because “behind opposed positions lie shared and compatible interests,
as well as, conflicting ones” (Fisher & Uy, 1991).
The diagram below is a model of what the map can look like at the barangay level, Principles of Mediation
which is the primary stage where community-based projects are implemented. Intervention – exerting effort to come between contending persons or groups for
However, the relationship between the municipal (particularly the mayor) and the purpose of helping them.
barangay officials is extremely important. For this reason, the diagram will need Acceptability – refers to the willingness of the disputants to allow a third party to
to include the relationships between the key actors at the municipal level with the assist them in reaching a resolution.
barangay actors. Impartiality and neutrality – the attitude or behavior of the ones intervening.
They will have no authoritative decision-making power except to facilitate.

When is mediation an appropriate approach? 4. He/she must be committed from the very beginning.
If parties are open to negotiation and there is an impartial third party who 5. He/she must set up the first meeting.
is willing to act as mediator. 6. He/she must agree on the preliminary exchange of documents.
7. He/she must prepare a conflict map (see above).
If the case, according to tradition and the law, can be resolved through
negotiation. Shuttle mediation is an alternative strategy in doing mediation where a third-party
acts as a go-between until the warring parties reach a mutually acceptable solution.
If there is a balance of power or there are means to balance power or neu-
tralize power imbalances between or among parties. Actual Mediation Procedure:
1. Introduce yourself and the parties. Be sure to observe traditions and
What are the essential qualities of a good mediator? cultural-sensitivity.
He/she must be warm, caring, non-judgmental, accepting, trustworthy 2. Explain the goals of the mediation and establish a positive negotiation
and objective. atmosphere.
3. Explain the role of the mediator as the impartial facilitator and of the
He/she must believe that others can solve their problems and that the pro- parties as decision-makers.
cess of mediation works. 4. Give an overview of the mediation process, emphasizing that it is voluntary
and confidential.
He/she must stand by the principle of neutrality and know how to be im- 5. Explain the importance of the caucus.
partial. 6. Get the parties’ commitment to the ground rules of the mediation process.
7. Inquire about the interests of the parties.
He/she must have skills like active listening, competence in analyzing and 8. Develop and recommend options for settlement.
engaging participants in the process, and effectiveness in asking open- 9. Allow time and space to evaluate options.
ended questions and directing the mediation process. 10. Conclude with a written agreement.
11. If not concluded, set up another meeting of the warring parties.
How to mediate?
Mediators must gain access into the conflict situation either through direct The mediation process could take one or more meetings, but it is important to
initiation by one or both warring parties, referrals from second parties, at their own document every meeting. Parties involved must go home with the feeling that
voluntary initiative, or with the help of a recognized official or non-official person(s) they have accomplished something at the mediation table. They should not go
of authority. home empty-handed and frustrated.
Preparations: The Value of a Written Agreement

1. He/she must build personal, institutional, and procedural credibility. A written agreement spells out what the parties have settled on. It is a mechanism
2. He/she must establish rapport with the disputants. to prevent misunderstanding. It allows the mediator to insist that the disputants
3. He/she must educate participants about the negotiation process, the role review details of each issue and commit themselves openly and clearly to what
of the mediator, and the function of mediation. has been agreed in each phase. It also gives the parties a real sense of closure and

accomplishment at the end of the mediation as it is a tangible product of their work • Inclusive, that is framed within a rights-based and gender responsive
at the mediation table. framework
• Voluntary and participatory, as the final decision rests with the parties
The peace agreement must be clearly written in a plain, neutral and positive • Culturally-sensitive
language. It must avoid statements of blame and must use a conciliatory tone. • Responsive to the sources and effects of power imbalance between or among
It must also be enforceable, and thus must contain sufficient details as to who the parties. All the stakeholders should have equal representation and voice
needs to do what, when, where and how. Both parties must perceive to have in the process
benefitted from it. • Information-and analysis-oriented where the mediator must look into the
sources of the conflict and the power relations of the parties
Post Mediation Activity • Systematic yet flexible and creative, taking into account the concepts, principles
Post-mediation monitoring and evaluation mechanism and procedures must and approaches in negotiation and mediation as well as the lessons from past
be established to ensure compliance of the parties to the agreement. It is also mediation experiences
necessary to identify factors hindering effective implementation of the agreement. • Non-violent
Then it must proceed to move the mediation process and output toward healing, • Educational, so as to impart to the parties empowering ways of resolving their
reconciliation and sustained peace. conflicts, and
• Capable of attaining comprehensive and substantive outcomes that are
Is mediation an alternative approach in the Philippines? mutually beneficial and fair for all parties concerned (Elogada, 2005).
Alternative Dispute Resolution is the mainstream language used to refer to
approaches outside of litigation. However, for the NGO Mediators Network for The succeeding section will discuss the application of this framework to rido
Sustainable Peace (MedNet), Inc., mediation is inherent in Philippine culture; thus, prevention and conflict resolution. Nonetheless, be reminded that these are
it is not an alternative approach. not the only tools available to the police station and the steps are not full-proof.
Do search for additional tools and mix and match tactics to better address your
Culturally as a people, we Filipinos are family and clan oriented. We value our particular confl ict situation.
relationships and in times of conflicts, we seek out intermediaries within the
family, clan or friends to facilitate settlement of disputes and preserve the positive
relationship in communities. We are collectivists in culture, where “the self is
defined by one’s relationships within one’s social world…where parties in conflict
focus on the relational and affective aspects of the conflict.” (Gelfland et al, 2002)…
where the self is actively negotiated through face work …where there must be
high consistency between public face and private self- image (Augsburger, 2002).
It is in this context that MedNet decided to use the term Empowering Dispute
Resolution/Management. The founding Congress of MedNet further defined what
constitutes EDRM processes which include the following:

CHAPTER V | engaging rido

Chapter V | Engaging Rido
An honest recognition that rido is a police problem is the first crucial step to a police The following are the suggested steps on community organizing and social
station's meaningful engagement with the conflict. Policemen and policewomen investigation:
have to overcome the idea that rido is merely a “family-thing” and therefore does not
require police intervention. But more than this “excuse,” policemen and policewomen, 1. Gathering and reviewing secondary data sources such as records and
especially at the localities, must not be affected by the fear of retaliation by either documents. For the police, the initial place to start are the files available in
parties against their families. “Staying out of trouble” by not intervening into rido the police station such as the police blotter and cases filed in court.
goes against the very essence of proactive conflict management. Playing it safe is a
false notion because no one is really safe when rido lurks around. 2. Holding personal interviews especially of key informants. This should be
non-threatening and not take the form of police investigation. Simple
The best defense against rido is to go on the offensive, seeking out conflicts and positively conversations with questions in mind would serve the purpose of getting
engaging these through a combination of traditional and modern techniques. important facts.
Scenario 1 3. Conducting a survey of the place through a deliberate effort to observe the
What if you are new in the area and it is your first time to people and their environment. Prepare a guide to record your observations
encounter rido? to include physical, economic, socio-political, and cultural aspects of the
community. Since this a confl ict management task, list your observations of
Tools/activities you can use. Community Organizing and Social Investigation the families involved in the confl ict and keep them updated.
Rationale: Conflict occurs involving community members, hence it is important to In community organizing, social investigation is complemented with community
know about the community and its elements that interact with conflict. Community integration, which is accomplished by living with the people and sharing the
organizing and social investigation are complementary tools that cut across the life same experience with them. In Tagalog, this is what is popularly known as
cycle of the conflict and considered as useful tools in confl ict management. pakikisalamuha at pakikisama sa mga tao. Among members of the PNP, pakikisama
is advised with caution as it could be misinterpreted and abused. Hindi dapat
Community organizing is a problem solving approach whereby the community is makisama at “makisama” or partake of bad or illegal ways or “Sa pamamagitan ng
empowered with the knowledge and skills to identify and prioritize its needs, and pakikisalamuha mas lalung makikilala ng pulis ang mga tao at mauunawaan ang
problems. The community organizer (CO) facilitates the process of participative kanilang mga problema. Maaring makilahok sa kanilang mga livelihood activities o
action and harnessing resources to deal with the problems and its related issues. mga hanapbuhay sa bukid, tumulong sa mga pagtatayong bahay o mga bayanihan.
Maaari din dumalo sa mga social events at sumali sa mga sports activities. Maraming
As a community organizer, it is important for the police or the peacekeeper to adapt paraan, subalit dapat lamang tandaan na di ito dahilan upang sumali sa mga di
a lifestyle and personality that is in keeping with the community. Keep a low profile. kanais-nais na gawain tulad ng “inuman” o paglalasing, pagsusugal at iba pang bisyo.”
When talking about programs and your effort toward peace building, avoid raising
people’s expectations. Be honest and sincere. Share your knowledge and experience After a period of social investigation and writing what he/she has observed, the
to the people with the objective of drawing in their trust, inputs and participation. community organizer-peacekeeper in the police station is now equipped with
Social investigation as a part of the conflict management process is a continuing community data that he can use for conflict management. This should be kept as
activity of getting to know the members of the community and their situation. It part of the important records of the police station and used as reference to aid
takes particular focus on those affected by the conflict. police work. Simple lang, di ba?

Case study 1 | Pati mga Batang Walang Malay: A Chief of nakasama ko upang makadaupang palad ang ilang subordinate commanders
Police Questions the Cruelty of Rido ng MILF at MNLF.
By PSSUPT Ildebrandi Usana
Kinausap ko rin ang mga elders, katutubo,
I was the first PNPA graduate to become the Chief of Police in Pikit, North Co- at pinuno ng mga grupong Muslim kahit
tabato in February 1991. “Paglapag ko palang dito sinabi ko na sa aking sarili gaano pa kalayo ang kanilang barangay.
na ‘peacebuilding ang magiging agenda ko.” Nagdala ako ng pagkain, nakipagkilala at
nakipagkwentuhan sa kanila. Madalas,
habang pinagsasaluhan namin ang pagkaing
hinanda naming mga pulis, umiikot ang
aming usapan sa hangad na kapayapaan
ng kanilang lugar. Masaya sila at puno ng
pag-asa sa mga sandaling iyon. Simple lang
di ba, pero big deal na sa kanila yun dahil
nabigyan sila ng importansya at panahon ng
isang Chief of Police nang bumisita ako sa
tulad nila.
Pikit used to be associated with violence, injustice, and lawlessness, and
in-between were rido or wars between clans. (Naging tanyag na nga ang Sa loob ng halos isang taong pinamalagi ko sa Pikit Police Station, naglunsad
Pikit bilang isa sa mga ‘pugad ng madudugong bakbakan’ ng pamahalaang ako ng kampanya para sa Crime Prevention, nagpaseminar na rin ako ukol dito
sundalo at mga rebelde, mga pagsabog, at kung saan maraming evacuation pati sa salot na droga, at rumoronda kasama ang mga pulis habang malalim
at relief activities na naisagawa ang pamahalaan mula kay Pres. Cory Aquino na ang gabi. Dalawang beses din ako nag-sponsor ng ‘disco ng bayan’ sa
hanggang kay Pres. Arroyo.) Poblacion na naglalayong paglapitin ang mga kabataang Kristiano at Muslim,
kahit pa nakatira sa
Pikit Police Station is situated on top of a small hill beside the municipal plaza. kabilang ibayo. Sa
At the time, I had forty-two police officers under my supervision. Sinikap ko’ng dalawang okasyong
maging busy sa mga usaping kapayapaan kaysa sa mga usaping giyera at ito, di naranasan ng
karahasan. Nasa isip ko nun, pulis kami at mas madali para sa amin ang mga pulis sa Pikit na
isulong ang kapayapaan, mas di magastos para sa seguridad ng bayan, at magkaroon ng basag-
mas tatagal ang aking buhay --- naaalala ko, di ko ninais magdala ng armas ulo ang mga kabataan
sa anim na taon kong pinamalagi sa Mindanao, kasama ang Pikit. Sabi nga, na magiging sanhi ng
“laway lang ang puhunan” at yun ang naging sandata ko --- ang pakikipagusap, muling pagsiklab ng
dialogue, or communication. Kaya, pinuntahan at kinausap ko ang ilang isang malaking gulo
kinatawan ng MILF at ng MNLF na nakahimpilan sa lugar ng Pikit. Mahalaga sa bayan na ito. Isang
ang ginampanang papel ng aking mga pulis na Muslim, dahil sila ang mga success story ng peace-

driven conflict resolution na naisagawa I left Pikit in December of 1991. Leaving behind unprecedented efforts, I knew
ko ay ang mapagbati ang dalawang too well that I made a difference in that. I also did my best to address other rido
paksyon ng mga kabataan sa Pikit na cases in order to ease the level of tension in the community, between Muslims,
matagal nang may alitan at karahasan between Christians and Muslims, and between Christians. Sa awa ng Diyos, iyon
sa isa’t isa. Nangyari ang “handshake na ang huling rido massacre hanggang sa makaalis ako ng Pikit. Salamat sa
of peace” sa Plaza mismo. Mula noon, Pikit, na nagmulat sa akin sa katotohan ng pangangailangan sa kapayapaan sa
ang grupong ito ay naging kasama ko Mindanao. Peace is not an option, it is a non-negotiable need.
sa pagsulong ng katahimikan sa Pikit.
Lumahok ako sa mga activities ng (Note: In 1994 through 2000, war had recurred in Pikit after the government
munisipio, sa mga paaralan, at sa ilang had pronounced an all-out war against the MILF, resulting in the death, and
patimpalak. Naiimibitahan din akong the mass evacuation of residents, mostly women and children. Pikit is where
makisalo sa hapagkainan ng pamilya ng one finds the place of Rajah Muda where the second largest camp of MILF is
aking mga pulis. Nakimiembro din ako located)
sa ‘Kiwanis Club’ng Simbahang Katolika
at dumadalo sa mga araw ng pagsamba “Salamat sa Pikit, na nagmulat sa akin sa katotohan ng pangangailangan
ng Iglesia ni Kristo upang makita ng sa kapayapaan sa Mindanao. Peace is not an option, it is a non-negotiable
mga kumakatawan nito na ako ay “isang pulis para sa lahat ng mamamayan.” ncessity.”
Ngunit sa gitna ng puspusang Reflection questions:

pakikisalamuha ko sa mga tao,
naranasan ko ring kaharapin 1. How did PSSUPT Usana conduct community organizing and social
ang mga kaso ng karahasan investigation? What is the importance of these tasks?
na dulot ng rido o ang awayan 2. What lessons can you draw from PSS Usana’s experience in Pikit?
ng mga pamilya o tribo. Isang
hatinggabi, ginising ako ng isa Tips:
sa aking mga pulis dahil meron
daw family massacre sa isang 1. Timing is everything. Early intervention is critical to prevent conflicts.
baryo. Malayo ang lugar pero It requires resources, especially political will, hence, it calls for the
nilakad namin yun sa ilalim ng liwanag ng buwan. Dumating kami sa lugar na resolve and the resourcefulness of the peacekeeper.
unti-unti nang dumudungaw ang liwanag Sa bahay ng mga biktima, natagpuan
naming nakahandusay ang mga magulang at mga batang wala nang buhay. 2. De-escalation. Dynamic and interactive processes in individual and
Pati walang malay na bata at sanggol ay pinagtataga rin. Upon investigation, collective behavior explain whether hostile attitudes and behavior es-
we found out that the killing was part of a rido between two families that were calate or not. Escalation may be vertical—hostile behavior becomes
involved in a land dispute. I asked myself, ‘bakit pati mga bata ay idinamay? more intense—or horizontal—hostile behavior of the same intensity
Ano ang kinalaman nila? Talaga nga palang ‘ubusan ng lahi’ ang rido. spreads over a larger area. Escalation can take both forms. Escalation

can be caused by the parties themselves or by actions that third par-
ties take. The escalated conflict may affect third parties who feel that Makisama,‘Wag Makisama’
intervention would help their own interests. Other parties entering the
conflict may prompt additional parties to take sides. The police should
be aware of the ripple effect of the escalating conflict.
3. Staying off the destructive track - Various kinds of behavior make

conflicts worse. Here are some examples:
• Finger-pointing. Finding fault or blaming someone else does nothing

to solve the problem and is great for building unhealthy tension in a
team.
• Pushing your way. When you push and push for your point
of view and show little interest in considering someone else’s,
you only increase the volume of debate, which drowns out any
prospects of settling the debate.
• Insults galore. Name-calling and other personal insults are not

invitations for resolving a conflict.
• Verbal threats and ultimatums. Such outbursts intimidate some

people, turn off others, and they’re not exactly the best way to
promote good teamwork.
• Defensiveness. Justifying your action instead of listening to what

someone else is trying to tell you builds a wall between you and
the other party, making agreements nearly impossible to achieve.
• Avoidance. Running away from the problem and hoping that it

goes away — avoidance at its best — seldom resolves an issue.

Scenario 2 : ang pinag-uusapan.” (They have their own courts that they follow in their own
What if you are approached by two families who are culture. Most of them don’t want violence and a lot of them try to mediate
both your friends? problems especially if it’s a dangerous case of rido), he explained.
Case Number 2 | The Neutral Stance Although the legal courts of the land also have jurisdiction in this matter, the
locals find the use of historical, religious and cultural court as forum for justice
Five years after he graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), a to be faster and far ranging when it comes to solving rido.
young police senior inspector (captain) became the Group Commander of the
Regional Mobile Group in a major city in Mindanao with huge trading activities The PNP officer also turned down the generous offer of money as protection
coming out of the Philippine backdoor. He had the support of the Marines and for one party to inflict violence on another. He knew that asking for money or
the Navy officers based in the city. He also had the support of the politicians even taking money is a big no-no among the locals and would forever besmirch
who appointed him to the position. He was one of the favored sons of the PNP, his reputation among the locals.
until he was forced to settle a rido.
“There is no sense in asking for favors. Kung nakita ka nung isang pamilya na
The local politician who needed the votes of both families would not interfere in humihingi ng tulong sa iyo yung kalaban nila, hihingi din yung isa ng tulong
the conflict. The importers and exporters who knew how damaging a rido can sa iyo. Kung hindi mo mapagbigyan sila magagalit sila sa iyo.” He reasoned.
be to local business could not offer their support, too. The military could not “Ang masama niyan ay kung malaman nung nauna na lumapit sa iyo yung
also intervene as well, hence, the burden rested on the Chief of Police. kalaban nila. Eh di parehas mo na silang kalaban at kahit ayaw mo nakakasama
ka na sa rido” He also deliberately did not talk about faith in this matter. A
Faced with the temptation of siding with one party who solicited his help, person of another faith who would probably look down on the faith of another
offered him luxurious gifts and promised him power and control beyond his would not be particularly effective in such case. Being neutral requires not
wildest imagination, the PNP officer was close to taking the “easy way”. But taking sides on the religious aspect of rido.
the law required him to be neutral. Out of duty, he obligingly did. “Kailangan
mo talagang gumitna and huwag ng makisali sa kanilang gulo.” The young After just three months, the rido was mediated after the council of elders
officer resolved. decided the case among themselves. The PNP officer, who took the neutral
stance and was admired by both parties, was even invited to the Kanduli
In deciding not to side with anyone, he then referred the case to the elders (thanksgiving feast) to mark the end of the rido.
(Asatidz and Imams) of the clan with whom the two families were associated.
He knew that every ethnic group of Mindanaons subscribe to their religious Reflections:
(Shariah) courts. Why is it important to take a neutral stance when it concerns solving
clan wars?
“May mga sarili silang court structures sa kanilang kultura na sinusunod. Is it important to trust the local community council of a locality, even
Marami sa mga taga-Mindanao ang ayaw sa karahasan. Kaya marami ang though you are a foreigner in the land?
gumagawa ng paraan para maayos ang mga kaso lalong lalo na kung rido What is the value of the religious courts?

Scenario 3:
What if you are a police officer who has rido in your
own family?
Case Number 3 | The Peace Covenant of the Muksan and

Sahidullah Clans
Muksan and Sahidullah peace covenant signing event at the Garden Orchids in Zamboanga City last June 22, 2012.
“Salaggu’laggu’ dusa, Malaggu’ pa in ampun”

(No Matter how grave the offense, Greater is forgiveness)
- A Tausug local saying
The Peace Covenant of the Muksan and Sahidullah Clans

“Salaggu’laggu’ dusa, Malaggu’ pa in ampun”
(No Matter how grave the offense, Greater is forgiveness)
A% A Tausug local saying

Mamauli: The Tausug’s Brand of Rido
of rido that terrorized other family members and even distant relatives.
The grim connotation of the Tausug term “mamauli” or seeking justice refers to “Ang problema sa rido ay hindi ka makagalaw nasa isang lugar ka lang.
the use of blunt and brute force, often with a gun, to exact revenge towards a Hindi ka man lang makapagtrabaho o makapag-negosyo para umasenso
rival family who has besmirched the honor of your clan. It goes against good ang iyong buhay.”
manners, strict Islamic norms and legal bounds. For a Tausug who was born
into a strong system of zealous family allegiance and years of self-rule, the The security of the household should always be taken into consideration.
term holds true from one generation to another. Precautions are extraordinary: one should be on his toes with the first sight
of trouble. Because those who are engaged in rido would often commit
The Muksans and Sahidullahs of Zamboanga were often considered the two the vendetta far from the eyes of the prying public usually on dirt roads,
most powerful and respected Tausug clans in the 1970’s. Their influences isolated houses, farm lands and would make it appear as a random act of
directly impacted the state of commerce in the region since they controlled the violence without a witness in sight. “Dahil hindi mo alam ang mangyayari
ports where imported goods from nearby countries of Indonesia and Malaysia at nangyayari paralyzed ka sa fear and alienated ka sa katotohan.” And
passed without tariffs. Importers would seek these families for a right of entry eventually people under such duress would either succumb to fear or lose
for a subsequent fee, which was quite insignificant, compared to the regular faith in the law enforcement and the governing system.
port taxes. The power play for control over contraband led to the killing of a
prominent member of the clan Sahidullah, who was then the Vice Mayor of the Family Honor
town of Banguingui in Sulu. It triggered a vicious rido that endured for more
than a quarter of a century between the two families. What provokes rido to an even more frenzied state is peer pressure from
relatives and friends who would further goad the warring families to seek
A Child Cries Why? justice and defend their family honor. The young Muksan would often be
taunted, “Ang tapang tapang mo akala mo kung sino ka pero yung ka rido ng
As a young boy in Zamboanga, Nickson was always haunted by that fateful pamilya mo di ka man lang makaganti.” The primordial sentiment of defending
day in 1977. Arriving at home after a day in school, he found his family and your family can be an impetus enough to kill another person.
relatives mourning the death of her pregnant sister who was violently shot
to death by unidentified gunmen. “Hindi ko maiintindihan Bakit kailangan Fortunately for Nickson Muksan, he enrolled and was admitted to the Philippine
may mamatay?” the young Muksan asked. Military Academy, which brought him not only good education but also a more
positive view of life and its importance. As he rose in rank, PSSUPT Muksan
His pregnant sister and her companion were on their way home when they became more admired and respected in his family. Later the clan would confirm
were followed by a group of armed men who were known to be relatives him as the patriarch of the group.
of their enemies. Fearing for their lives they speedily drove past the group
and a car chase ensued. Unfortunately, the Muksans were cornered and Upon assuming leadership as patriarch of his clan, he turned to his positive
were riddled with bullets. Everyone including his unborn nephew died. views about life and initiated change within his family. He summoned the
heads of the Muksan clan and asked them to stop all killings and violence
The killings soon escalated and became a monthly affair for both families - towards other families. He also requested them to stop provoking their enemy.
where an average of one family member died every other month. A record He even requested for the opposite: to greet them, be nice to them in public
of over 20 persons died from each side. More devastating were the effects and act as if there was no conflict at all.

He also sent feelers to other families that they were willing to forgive atrocities should also learn the art of mediation and learn key areas wherein both parties
committed in the past and sought absolution for their own. could reconcile. They should also identify and reason with the patriarch who
holds the key position in negotiations. Third, the feud must be settled as soon
This was highlighted in one particular incident in Zamboanga where he was a as possible and if reconciliation is not possible one family should give way and
Chief of the Mobile Group. He noticed two teen-aged members of a rival clan go away from the locale so that encounters will be less frequent. Time heals
returning home in the wee hours of the morning. He could have easily arrested all wounds, hopefully with a little time away from an enemy, one could learn
the two for a curfew violation but instead escorted the two and gave them a ride to forgive. Finally, the police could also play an active role in educating the
home. Words of his kindness and the clan’s change in attitude reached the people and disseminating information on the harm and effects of rido on the
patriarch of the Sahidullah clan: Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidullah of Tongkil, Sulu. warring families. They should also be vigilant advocates of human rights and
uphold the value of life.
The Beginning of the End
Reflection Question:
In their first meeting, PSSUPT. Muksan affirmed to the mayor his sincerity in
ending the dispute and as a member of the PNP, he affirmed to him his duty In your own words, what are the roles of the police in solving Rido?
to serve him being an elected government official.
What could you say on the quotation: “once a person understands the
“Ako po’y lingkod ninyo yun ang una kung sinabi” PSSUPT Muksan
remembered. value of life, especially that of his loved ones, the killing would stop”?
Mayor Sahidullah, on his part, said that since they are the younger and In your own experience, is it worthy to pursue an old transgression?
educated generation of their clans who bore the brunt of the rido, they now
wanted to stop it so that both clans could live and work peacefully.
Scenario 4:
“It is very significant in our family because at last we will settle our differences How do you intervene if you are a Police Officer and Imam at
after 31 years.” Sahidullah added in a news interview. the same time?
After finishing the peace negotiations for the conditions of the accord, both
parties ended the blood feud without any monetary considerations. Case Number | 4 The Reflections of an Imam and an Officer
A vital element in the resolution of the Sahidullah-Muksan rido which lasted for
more than 20 years is PSSUPT Muksan’s professionalism as a police officer. “And Mohammad (PBUH) recited to them the story of the two sons of Adam
Muksan believes that any policeman especially the ground commanders could (Abel and Cain) and in truth; when each offered a sacrifice, it was accepted
help further diminish the occurrence of rido or even solve it. from one but not from the other. The latter said to the former. “I will surely kill
you.” The former said: Verily Allah accepts only from those who are pious. If
Hence, PSSUPT Muksan has the following advice for police officers confronting you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand
rido problems: First, identify the warring clans within their locale and they against you to kill you: for I fear Allah, the Lord of all mankind.”
should not be afraid of or intimidated by the parties involved. Second, they - The Qur’an (Surah Al-Ma’idah : 27-28)

PSUPT Ebra Minalang Moxsir is a very able police officer who was awarded a that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily,
Medal of Efficiency (Medalya ng Kasanayan) by the PNP NHQ for exemplary the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most righteous
service for his successful mediation of two rido cases in the Southern Philippines. of you. (Holy Qur’an 49:13)
One is a politically charged conflict between the Ismael and Bayabao/Datualabi
clans of Marawi City, where a turf war to influence a commercial district turned In a case of rido, PSUPT Moxsir often mentions the value of forgiveness
into a full blown murder case. A series of attempted murders from both parties among Muslims which is the starting point of all reconciliation.
followed, which was fortunately kept at peace through mediation.
He notes the Holy Qur’an in the value of forgiveness as a favored quality of
The second was a fistfight between neighboring vendors: the Namras and the Allah among Muslims as stated in the Holy Qur’an (Surah Al-Shurah : 43
Bocuas families, which was about to turn for the worst. Fortunately, PSUPT “And verily, whoever shows patience and forgives, that would truly be from
Moxsir and the Muslim Consultative Council of Brgy. Holy Spirit in Quezon City things recommended by Allah.”
intervened before the incident turned violent and nasty.
He also points out that forgiveness is also rewarded by Allah as stated in the
In all of these worthy acts, PSUPT Moxsir does not credit his position as a Holy Qur’an (Surah Al-Shurah : 40 “The recompense for an evil is an evil
police officer but emphasizes on how he does things: “God-centered”. like thereof; but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with
Allah. Verily, he likes not the Zalimun (oppressors)”
As the resident Imam (Islam Base Chaplain) of the Philippine National Police
in Camp Crame and a revered elder who heads the Imam Council of the He also notes that being humble and meek is the proper attitude that
Philippines, all his mediation efforts are centered on the principles of Islam, a Muslim should take in dealing with his brothers. Allah openly receives
obedience to Allah and respect for mankind. those who are forgiving and peaceful as stated in the Holy Qur’an (Surah
Al-Ma’idah: 27-28).
One of his favorite Islamic principles in mediating a rido case can be found in
the Holy Qur’an (Surah Al-Hujarat: 9-10) which states “And if two parties or He also reminds all Muslims involved in rido that the day of reckoning is
groups among believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both. coming: “On the Day when every person will be confronted with all the good
But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you (all) against the one he has done and all the evil he has done, he will wish that there were a great
which outrages till it complies , then make reconciliation between them justly, distance between him and his evil. And Allah warns you against Himself (His
and be equitable. Verily, Allah loves those who are equitable. The believers Punishment) and Allah is full of kindness to all His slaves.” As stated in the
are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So make reconciliation Holy Qur’an (Surah Al-Imran : 30)
among your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.”
In the end of any mediation, he always emphasizes the need of forgiving
This particular verse states that mediation is an Islamic practice clearly so that Allah could also forgive them as promised in the Holy Qur’an
endorsed by the Holy Qur’an. Making peace among brothers and reconciling (Surah Al-Zumar : 53 “Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah
them in justice and equality is a duty among Muslims no matter what tribe they forgives all sins Truly He is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.”
belong to and their nationality. And Allah has said: “O mankind! we created you
from a single (pair) of a male and female and made you into nations and tribe,

Following this simple formula based on principles of the Holy Qu’ran, PSUPT of the Criminal Justice System. He made this presence felt through
Moxsir was able to resolve multiple conflicts and re-united brothers in faith. INVESTIGATION. He admonished the police to take their duties in
It is his covenant with Allah to be an effective mediator both as an Imam and investigation seriously as it is the first step to the administration of justice and
a PNP officer. to rebut the cry of injustice. The objective is to BUILD UP THE CASE and to
overcome the challenge in most rido cases – when there is no witness, there
Reflection Questions: is no case. He pushed the police to go the extra mile in securing the safety
and support of witnesses. He advocated community organizing to elicit the
1. Would you take the same attitude as Abel did when Cain harmed him? Why? support of the clan elders and community leaders.
2. What are the principles of Islam that are applicable in solving a rido case? To address the challenges of solving rido cases, Cotabato PPO took more
deliberate steps. It launched Task Force Manhunt to arrest persons with
3. What does it mean for a policeman to be “God-Centered”? standing Warrants of Arrests. In the first 100 days of operation alone, the
Task Force arrested 273 wanted persons. In 1999, it organized and launched
its Mounted Police in Arakan just to provide police service to indigenous
people living even in the remotest barangays of the municipality.
Case Number 5 | Rido and the Response of the Cotabato
Provincial Police Office The Provincial Director also organized a Special Investigation Group (SIG)
that factored in religious and cultural sensitivities in their work. Through this,
“Kung mag-rido ka, ikaw ang magkakaroon ng kaso at hahabulin ng buong the PNP endeavored to assure impartiality, sincerity and focus to ensure
pwersa ng kapulisan. Kung mag-file ka ng kaso, ang buong kapulisan ang concrete results. The SIG had several teams and among which are the SIG-
hahabol sa iyong kalaban at wala ka pa’ng uutanging buhay o dugo (blood Muslim Desk Team and the SIG- Heinous/Sensational Crimes Team. The
debt). Sa ganito’ng paraan maiingatan mo pa ang iyong pamilya. Hindi SIG-Muslim Desk Team is headed by a Muslim officer and whose members
ninyo kailangan masaktan o manakit ng iba.” This was the message of PDIR include at least one Muslim and one Christian investigator. It handles specific
Alex Paul Monteagudo when was Director of Cotabato Provincial Police cases where the victim is a Muslim and the suspect is Christian. The SIG
Office (PPO). also functions as a Coordinating Center for crime investigation and it
maintains a computerized database of criminals and crime incidents. This
INJUSTICE! This has been the perennial outcry of the people of Mindanao, became centralized database for all investigators of the different municipal
whether they belong to the Moro people who became members of the MILF police stations. In February 2000, the SIG was formally launched and
or the MNLF, or the indigenous peoples who have joined the NPA. How institutionalized in Cotabato PPO. This innovation and deliberate steps
can the police respond, so these people cannot justify rebellion against the elicited the support of clan and community leaders for the PNP efforts to
government? So that others will not lose faith in government or worst take address rido.
the law in their own hands and declare “rido” against opponents.
In Cotabato, Provincial Director Monteagudo gave due emphasis to the

presence of PNP as a law enforcement agency and one of the five pillars

CHAPTER VI | case studies

Chapter VI. Case Studies of Rido Conflict Resolution Madalaw set another date and Mangambit resolved that if this payment date
This chapter presents compiled cases of rido resolution and demonstrates a way falls through again, he may have to resort to more drastic means. Mangambit
of documenting them. was desperate and had hoped to receive the long overdue payment. But he was
betrayed because during their meeting, Madalaw killed Mangambit. Madalaw was
Scenario 5: thinking that time that what he did was the solution of his problem. No sooner that
How to resolve a rido case of land dispute? the crime was discovered and Madalaw was arrested and detained by the police.
Madalaw had been in prison for a month before a traditional settlement took place.
Case Number | 6 Land dispute resulting to injuries and killings
(documented by RIDO, Inc.) Intervention:
Facts of the case: The PNP immediately arrested Madalaw and sought the help of the datus and
Cause of conflict Failure of payment for land sale the RIDO staff to prevent further violence from the offended party. Note how the
Conflicting parties Padato family vs. Lao family police DID NOT JUST STOP, after they have arrested the suspect. Because indeed the
work does not just stop there. When the Datus learned about this fateful incident
Place of occurrence Brgy. Matanog, Balabagan, Lanao del Sur
between cousins Mangambit and Madalaw, they were worried that the relationship
Date of occurrence September 21, 2011
between the families would collapse and break out into a rido fight. To prevent
Casualties/damages 1 killed and 2 injured
further violence erupting from either parties, they went out of their way to appease
Mediators o LGU officials the offended. The datus proposed an amicable settlement of taritib and ijma to
o Barangay leaders
immediately settle the brewing conflict. Since the families involved come from one
o Traditional leaders
o Civil society leaders - RIDO, Inc. Staff clan, the settlement was not that difficult to negotiate. They were reminded that
the same blood flowing through their veins come from one heart that beats peace
Date of settlement February 16, 2012 and unity for their families and future generations. An agreement was reached that
Venue of settlement Municipal Hall, Balabagan, Lanao del Sur the offending party must pay the debt for the land sale, blood money for the death
of Mangambit and the injuries of those affected during the shooting incident.
Summary:
“The Local Chief Executive, the Peace Committee and the PNP observed the mourning
The conflict between the Mangambit and Madalaw happened on September 21, process respectfully and peacefully. They brought up genealogies and traced the
2011 at Brgy. Matanog, Balabagan, Lanao del Sur. The cause of the conflict was the relationships of both parties subtly in order to appease both parties. The mediators
failure of payment for the sale of the land. Mangambit inherited a half hectare of started the negotiations quietly through the close relatives and discussed the hokum
land from his parents, Diripo Lao and Polili Mindambag. But, instead of farming or corresponding mode of punishment or settlement in general. When the mourning
it, he sold it to his cousin, Madalaw Lao. The two made an agreement and dates process is sufficiently finished, the mediators divided their group into two. One is
of payment were set. When the agreed payment date came, Mangambit went to assigned to the offended party and other to the offending party. Each mediator team
collect the payment from his cousin. But Madalaw failed to pay because he did not worked to absorb emotions and appease grief and offer proposals to be considered by
have enough money. As time went by, cousin Mangambit got tired of the promisory each of the parties involved. Should the feuding parties agree on the mode of settlement,
excuses of Madalaw. the corresponding requirements for traditional mechanism include pangangawidan,

like blood money, to be complied by the offending party. The venue and invitation of
the elders for the settlement was also discussed. It should be a neutral ground. Insight:
Finally, the agreement was reached and a peace settlement ensued. Speeches were Building and nurturing relationships are key elements in police community
made and afterwards both parties swear on the Qur’an. Representatives of the parties relations and conflict management. Do your best to resolve situations
are reminded to focus their speeches on the relationship of the parties by blood and without destroying relationships. Use these opportunities to build them or
essence of unity and reconciliation. After swearing on the Qur’an, they return to the even take such relationships to the next level.
kambatabataa or family relations to protect one another and the case is totally closed.
Involved parties embrace one another as a symbol of acceptance and willingness to Go the extra mile in making people realize the value of preserving
close the case formally. Then snacks for kanduri are served and followed by prayers.” relationships, especially family relations which is very important in rido
settlements. Lead people to choose family or friendly relations over harboring
Clearly, the community mediators were critical in preventing the splintering offenses. Forgiveness has much better chances of resulting into something
of relationships between the related families. They helped in maintaining the good over grudges and vendettas. Think out of the box and explore options
peace during the time of mourning. They facilitated the process of meeting the for a win-win solution for all. As they say, if there is THE WILL, THERE IS A WAY.
demands and in celebrating the reconciliation. The mediators helped draft a Kung gusto may paraan, kung ayaw, may dahilan
written agreement which stated that the two families will forgive and forget the
incident. Instead they will remember the good relationships they had before the
incident and remain steadfast in being peaceful members of the Mangambit and
Madalaw clans.
Overall, the collective effort of the police, community elders and the NGO staff
ensured the effective resolution of this rido between the Mangambit and Madalaw
clans. The police performed the full spectrum of their job in the process of
reconciliation – arrest, detention, mediation and providing security to key players
in the negotiation table. They jailed the suspect immediately, which appeased the
maratabat of the offended party. They stayed neutral and professional throughout
the entire process.

Intervention:
Scenario 7: RIDO lobbied for the withdrawal of the case filed by the offended party at the
How do you appease the maratabat (pride) of the Maranao? Regional Trial Branch 8 of Marawi, under criminal case number 5740-07. It facilitated
the filing of the affidavit of desistance despite the manipulation of one of the
Case Number | 7 Slandering resulting in an ambush politicians in the area due to personal interests. It mobilised a team that will handle
(documented by RIDO, Inc.) the mediation and negotiation processes. The team helped the suspects in resource
generation and contributed to the financial expenses for food, transportation and
other operational requirements. With the Council of Elders, this NGO conceptualized
the terms of the agreement that were proposed to both parties.
A senior elder was designated as spokesperson/facilitator of the mediation team. The

PNP and AFP ensured the safety of all participants who witnessed the resolution of
the conflicts at the same time, maintained their presence to sustain peace and prevent
any provocative moves from both parties. On July 5, the case was resolved and was
witnessed by the The Asia Foundation and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process program officers, Barangay Chairman, PNP, AFP and other individuals.
Summary:
Insights:
This particular conflict happened sometime in August 2008 between Family X from This particular rido resolution prevented election violence in this municipality
the Municipality of Ganasi and Family Y from Pualas in Lanao del Sur. in 2010, since some of the relatives of both parties reside in neighboring
barangays. Since the rido was effectively resolved early on, no incidence of
Accordingly, Mr. Y courted a woman from Family X and she became his girlfriend. On election-related violence transpired.
one occasion he bragged about it among his friends in the marketplace. The macho Before engaging in a mediation process, the most respected individuals and
man that he was, Mr. Y disclosed his intimate relationship with his girlfriend from personalities within the clan were identified to ensure credibility and respect
Family X. He even mentioned the name of the said girlfiend twice. Unfortunately, a from conflicting parties.
member of family X, Mr X1, accidentally overheard it and felt embarrassed about it. Slander is one of the grave sins in Islam. The case provided a lesson to everyone
This is considered slander and their family honor was violated. that respect for both women and men should be observed at all times and in
all places. A proof to the words of Prophet Mohammad SAW (Sallalahu Alayhi
In order to redeem his maratabat (pride), Mr X1 and cousins ambushed Mr. Y while Wasallam or peace be upon him), “It is better to be silent than to talk more
travelling in another municipality. This led to his death and the consequent PNP without sense.”
manhunt for the Family X cousins. Even with the support of the mayor, the manhunt Again, the collective effort of all concerned sectors worked towards the
led to no results after two days. On the third day, a certain Mr. Dianaton Tanog peaceful and swift resolution of this case. Spoilers such as politicians with
or “warrior” allegedly connected to the suspects helped in the police mission and their personal agenda and their selfish motives have been prevented from
they were able to capture and detain the suspects. Mr X1 and cousins were jailed encroaching on the case.
for seven (7) months before the final settlement of the case held at Pindolonan, Note: Slander is also an offense defined and punishable under the Revised Penal Code (oral
Municipality of Ganasi. defamation in Articles 358 and 359).

Scenario 8: Summary:
How do you engage the youth in conflict resolution?
The conflict which occurred in 2007 at Barangay Lupa, Pikong, Lanao del Sur
Case Number 8 Rido Resolution Involving the Youth and the Police stemmed from a land boundary dispute between family Y of Sultan sa Taraka of
(documented by RIDO, Inc.) Nunungan which allegedly illegally encroached on the property owned by the
Paniorotan family. After months of bickering and relentless word war, the Sultan
of Taraka attacked and killed the son of the Paniorotan family for alleged rumor-
mongering. Upon learning of the murder, a young leader from Nunungan named
Atoy Manamparan, together with the datus of the community, intervened to
prevent retaliation and escalation.
Aside from being a traditional leader (datu), he is also a municipal councilor.

Thus he had both legal and traditional moral authority that was respected by
both families and the community. The negotiation took for more than 2 years
to complete with an instance of sliding backwards where the two families were
involved in a gun fight at the site of the disputed land boundary.
The datus then joined together with the local PNP which had members who were
relatives of both families. Invoking their same ancestors and their places of origin,
the mediator reminded the warring families that “ We are one.” This led to the
Facts of the Case opening of negotiations.
Causes Land boundary dispute
During the negotiation process, the Paniorotan family made a strong demand
Names of conflicting parties Paniorotan family and Sulutan sa taraka family
before the mediators: they should be allowed to kill the person responsible for the
Place Occurred Brgy. Mapia Lupa, Pikong, Lanao Del Sur death of the patriarch’s son. But the mediators refused to give in to the demand
Date Occurred 2007 and further engaged the Paniorotan family in an extended give-and-take process
Casualties/Damages 1 killed and damage to properties of negotiation.
Names of mediators W"'1S%@)&6),(
T&,&$G&/%."'$.8@",( About that time, RIDO Inc. came to the community to help inform and educate
5JX%" %%.8&@( the people about the effects of volent conflict and offered help in resolving the
0"@8.) rido. The mediators were all the more encouraged to continue their work with the
!8Q8@%Y".8)1/%2BZ7K[%Z$.>%(1&%%4 arrival of the RIDO Inc and the support offered by this peacekeeping NGO. One
benefit of this intervention was the issue of the blood money: if the offender was no
7&1)%"*%()%@)#)$1% \&$'&,/%DE[%<LD<
longer able to raise the necessary payment, the mediators would be the one who
])$')%"*%()%@)#)$1 O&,&$68$G[%5&@&[%5&$&"%7)@%^",1) will provide for the expenses of the kandori (feast).

Finally, the offended party agreed on the offer by the offender family for the Marital Conflict: Failure to provide financial
Causes
amount of 100,000 pesos and 1 long firearm as payment requested by the offended support
party. On January 17, 2012, the community celebrated the reconciliation through a
Names of conflicting
kandori as sponsored by the RIDO Inc. Both parties vowed that they will forget the Domaorong Family vs. Darimbang Family
parties
conflict and that they will be friends and relatives again.
Place Occurred Upper Bita, Butig, Lanao del Sur
Scenario 9:
How do you use salsillah or genealogies to settle a rido? Date Occurred August 2011
Case Number | 9 Rido conflict resolution through Salsillah or Casualties/Damages 2 dead, injuries to other persons
Genealogies (documented by RIDO, Inc.)
Date of settlement May 24, 2012
Venue of settlement
Brgy. Hall Mapantao, Marogong, Lanao del Sur
D>% Councilor Suod Sabdullah

<>% Umakaan Makasibar
:>% H. Abbas Maruhom
M>% Vice Mayor Abdul Gaffur Samporna
Names of mediators Domaorong
=>% Sultan Makulan H. Socor
C>% Abedin Darimbang
;>% Mayor Haron Maruhom
E>% Aleem Said Amerol – QRT Committee
P>% Chief of Police Abdul Cader Udasan
DL>% RIDO, Inc. Staff
Summary:
The conflict happened during the month of Ramadhan (August 2011) at Upper Bita,
Butig, Lanao del Sur. The source of conflict was the marital problem of spouses H.
Ismael Domaorong and Bae Darimbang. Ismael broke up with his wife and wanted

separation thus abandoning the family. As expected of separating couples, Ismael As requested, the reconciliation had to be settled in the two municipalities where
suffered money problems and failed to fulfill his financial obligations to his family, members of Camilo’s clan resided, that is, Marogong and Butig. The purpose of this
especially the children. Months passed after the divorce and no financial support was to ensure that family members in these areas would learn about the settlement
came to support the children under Bae’s custody. When the problem reached Orak and abide by it, and thus prevent them from taking any more violent action.
Darimbang, Bae’s brother, he became furious with Ismael. So angry that when they
accidentally met, Orak threatened Ismael and swore to kill him if he continues to Again, genealogies or Salsillah was used to appease both parties and to put an
deny financial support to his nephews and nieces. Upon hearing this, Ismael never end to the conflict. At the day of settlement, both parties swore on the Qur’an and
gave Orak the chance to execute his threat, thus he took his gun and shot him. But agreed to forgive, forget the past and move on to peaceful endeavors.
Orak had a gun as well, so he also took his shot and fired at Ismael and killed him.
Soon, news of the shootout spread like wildfire. Due to their clannish mentality, Insight: It is important for the police to note that family problems such
Ismael’s family sought to take matters into their own hands. They pursued Orak and as marital separation and its resulting consequences could erupt into a
killed him to avenge Ismael’s death. Camillo, Orak and Bae’s cousin was there when full-blown rido. What is normally considered as a mere family problem
the retaliation happened and became an unfortunate casualty for simply being a can become a social problem. In settling such conflicts, remind both
relative present at the crime scene. parties to be careful with word wars and threats that can lead to injuries
and deaths especially since firearms are kept in many households in the
Intervention: Southern Philippines.
Upon hearing about the incident, concerned community mediators (LGU, NGOs)
were alarmed and worried that further violence will transpire if no intervention was
done to appease the conflicting parties. The mediators thought that the deaths of
Ismael and Orak evened out the death scores between the two families – 1:2, and
thus the more urgent problem was Camilo’s family who might avenge his death
and kill another person from Ismael’s family. Hence, they wanted to negotiate with
them instead of Orak’s family.
The RIDO Inc staff organized a Quick Response Team to assist community mediators
in settling the case between Camilo and Ismael’s family. Accordingly, Ismael’s family
agreed to pay blood money in the amount of P200,000 for Camilo’s death. RIDO
Inc. helped in preparing the money and the dialogue for this peace settlement.

CHAPTER VII | Summary & Quick List

Chapter | VII. Summary and Conclusion: A Quicklist for the Figure 4. ASSERT: Proposed Steps for the Police in Preventing Rido
Police in Preventing Rido
In confronting the rido problem, experience has taught conflict managers that the
best defense is offense. We may call it a peace offensive to proactively seek out rido
cases to resolve and prevent violence. The police should not just be a mere scorer
between the warring parties, but he can be a transformer of the conflict. Given the
right framework and tools, the police can assert its authority to resolve rido and put
an end to this complex web of violence.
Below (Figure 4) is the ASSERT Framework that lists the proposed steps a police
station must take to address rido as a problem in its AOR. Rido cases vary in
complexity so bear in mind that the listed steps may not always follow the same
order. There may also be times that you have to go back to a previous phase or
step. This framework only serves as a practical guide and may be complemented by
consultations from traditional and other community leaders. Effective application
relies much on the professionalism, patience and peacebuilding skills of the police
and the active participation of partners in collectively resolving the rido conflict.
Phase I. Assess, Study and Strategize

1. Know your community and assess existing conflicts.
2. Identify rido cases and prioritize.
3. Carefully study the problem: Do conflict-mapping.
4. Contextualize: Do political-mapping.
5. Gather and involve allies.
Knowledge of the community is the critical starting point. Review and analyze the
existing database on crimes. Give special attention to rido related crimes. Interview
the members of the police station, especially those who have been there for a long
period of time. Give them specific assignments in gathering data. Validate the data
from different sources such as LGU officials, fellow officers who were previously as-
signed in the locality and reliable community leaders.

From the data collected, make a list of rido related conflicts. From this list make a rido o Describe the political networks for each elite faction. Is it based on family
information matrix where you can rank them from easy to most difficult. Pay attention or clan relations? Based on ethnicity or religion? Based on other affiliation?
to those that can be resolved at your level and start with the easy ones. The first case will
be difficult but it will give you confidence in the future as you resolve more rido cases. o How much fluctuation is there between political networks – do actors move
For the difficult ones, you have to be smart in gathering allies. between patrons, or are the networks relatively fixed?
Do conflict mapping. Dig deeper into the root causes of the problem. Identify the o Who are the fighters of the leaders or the clans? What is their opinion on the
actors in the rido – their allies, neutral relatives, respected elders -- and their specific conflict? Do they have the same opinion with their political leaders?
interests. Below are some basic questions to answer:
o What role does government or military/police play in local power dynamics?
What is the conflict trigger/triggers? What caused/ initiated the
conflict in the community? Resolving rido is always a collective effort. Research and go to the people who
What are the root causes or underlying causes of conflict? can influence the decision makers from both sides. Convince them to help and
What is sustaining the conflict? support your peacekeeping efforts. Know who to involve at appropriate states of
Who are the main actors/ parties in the conflict? What are their the resolution process and when they should be involved.
interests?
Who are their allies? What are their relationships to the main Phase II. Engage and Resolve
protagonists? 1. Prevent and diffuse tensions.
What are the possible “soft spots” of the contending actors? 2. Resolve through traditional, modern or combined means.
Who are the potential spoilers in this conflict? Who stands to benefit 3. Negotiate or mediate depending on the situation.
most if this conflict is prolonged? 4. Seal the deal with relatives and the community as witnesses.
Who are the possible people to approach toward engaging and
possibly resolving this conflict? Who are the right people to approach Be professional and enforce the law without fear or favor. Talk to the people and their
in gaining clarity about the conflict, in strategizing interventions, and leaders. Assure them that the police is doing its best in keeping the peace in the locality.
in resolving the conflict? Stay neutral and avoid giving the impression of any biases from the police.
Do political mapping. Determine the context that will help you visualize and Be sincere in either the negotiation or mediation tables. Determine the right tool
analyze the political & local dynamics surrounding the conflict. Below are some to use and involve the support of allies. Also, determine if there are hindrances or
basic questions for partners on political mapping of the context. spoilers in the resolution process. Sometimes a rido is prolonged or worsens because
personal interests arise during the negotiation period. Do not be intimidated. Stay
o Who are the most powerful/ influential actors? focused and do not let your efforts be hijacked by self-interested politicians.
o Which actors are marginalized or excluded from local power? Seal the resolution through a peace covenant or other religious and traditional
means. This is an excellent advocacy opportunity so be sure to engage the
o Are there competing elite groups at the local level? community in witnessing the peace ceremony.

Phase III. Transform through follow-up activities If the peacemaking deal is still in-process, document it as well. Write down the items
that have been resolved and remind the parties how they are progressing and why
1. Think out of the box to sustain the peace they should continue. If the conflict outlives your term in the police station, what
2. Transform negative energies to positive engagements. you have written will serve as reference to the next police officer who will handle
3. Document the story and pass it on. the rido case.
Do not stop yet. Make the necessary follow-ups in order to sustain the peace. These stories of peace have the power to save lives -- pass it on.
Think outside the box and transform negative energies to positive engagements.
For example, engage the parties in genealogies. Genealogies are tools in
conflict resolution. Bring up accounts of relationships of descent especially in
communities where kinship ties are strong. Foster harmony through community-
building activities.
Focus more on reaching a settlement and put less importance on indemnification

(blood money or settlement money). Consider the economic standing of the
feuding parties and do not propose measures that are not realistic and may just
prolong the problem.
Search for relationships that work and nurture these invaluable bonds. As the
saying goes, make friends before you need them. Build bridges instead of walls.
Finally, DO NOT FORGET to document the story of the rido that you have resolved –
or still trying to resolve. If resolved, write the report and take photos of the kanduri
or the peace ceremony. Emphasize the importance of this legacy of peace not only
to the families involved, but to their future generations as well. It is not true that
families are stuck with the choices that their forefathers have made, but instead
they can make their own choice – whether peace or violence for themselves and
their children.

References:
Caris, Amroussy. “The Maranao Kinship Group and Maranao Revenge or Saop. Personal History of Toto Paglas, Datu Paglas Website: http://www.datupaglas.com/
Undergraduate Thesis. Department of Political Science. Mindanao State University, toto_hist.html
Marawi City. 1991.
“Rido: Clan Feuding and Conflict Management in Mindanao” by Tthe Asia Foundation
Fisher, Ronald. “Generic Principles for Resolving Intergroup Conflict Constructive and USAID. Retrived on 4 June 2012 from http://ridomap.com/. This site aims to
Conflict Management: An Answer to Critical Social Problems.” Journal of Social contribute to the growing repository of knowledge on the dynamics of conflict and
Issues. Eds. Susan K. Boardman and Sandra Horowitz. 1994. conflict resolutions in Mindanao. It offers a database on rido, a critical aspect of the
long running armed conflicts in the region.
Lund, Michael, S. 1996. Preventing Conflict: A Strategy for Preventive Diplomacy.
United States Institute for Peace Press. Swords to Plowshares: Toto Paglas and the Dawning of Peace in Mindanao. The Liberal
Party Website, May 5, 2005, http://www.liberalparty.ph/news/swords2plowshares.htm
Mataun, Moctar I. Inventory of existing Rido in Lanao Del Sur (1994-2004) Mindanao
State University: Marawi, Lanao Del Norte 2006. Torres, Wilfredo III M. “Rido: Clan Feuding and Conflict Management In Mindanao. The
Asia Foundation: Makati, Philippines, 2007.
Montillo-Burton, Erlinda et al. Responses to Interkin Group Conflict in Northern
Mindanao. The Research Institue for Mindanao culture (RIMCU), Cagayan de Oro, Torres, Wilfredo III M. “Rido: Clan Feuding and Conflict Management In Mindanao. The
Misamis Oriental Asia Foundation: Makati, Philippines, 2007. Retrived on 4 June 2012. http://ridomap.
com/downloads/rido_full_text.pdf
Noble, Cecilia. The Bangsamoro Struggle for Self-Determintation: A Case Study.
Retrieved on September 12, 2012 from http://manoa.hawaii.edu/ccpv/assets/docs/ Villanueva, Jose., The Man Who Couldn’t Wait for Peace, The Graphic Magazine: July 28, 2003.
CCPV%20-%20The%20Bangsamoro%20Struggle%20for%20Self-Determination%20
-%20A%20Case%20Study%20-%20By%20Caecilia%20Noble.pdf
Paglas, Ibrahim. Testimonial of Datu Toto Paglas: Forum on the Big and Silent Killer:
Getting to the Bottom of Rido., Asia Foundation: Davao City, May 31, 2005.
Piñol, Manny. Philippine Daily Inquirer website: December 28, 2009 http://newsinfo.
inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091228-244267/Big-time-gambling-
patriarch-plays-high-stakes-politics

ANNEX A | Directory of Resources and Possible Partners in Conflict Management
Integral Development Services Bangsamoro Center for Justpeace in the CO-Multiversity Mindanao Dynamic Culture of Peace, Inc.
Poblacion 8, Midsayap, North Cotabato Philippines, Inc. Edilberto “Evhoy” Villaruel Mr. Jamael Datudacula
Ms. Bing Constantino Mr. Abdulbasit R. Benito Mindanao Coordinator Executive Director
Project Manager Executive Director Community Organizers Multiversity Bo. Sekap, Mindanao State University
Mobile: 09195221545 Int. 005-C Don E. Sero Street, Rosary Heights 4 18 Marunong St. Brgy. Central, Quezon City Marawi City
Email: [email protected] Cotabato Tel. No.: 9220246/9270794 Mobile: 09195005573
Tel. No.: (064) 390-2726 Mobile:09284943864 Email:[email protected]
Reconciliatory Initiatives for Development Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Opportunities (RIDO Inc.) Mobile:09197245492 Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum Inc.
Door 1 Hidaya Aparatment, Ceanouri Subd. Young Moro Professionals Network Tarhata M. Maglangit
Camague Street, Iligan City GinapaladTaka Inc. Shahana Abdulwahid Executive Director
Mr. Pogie Atar Mr. Mabanag Suleik Chairperson 22-E Sekak Apartment, Gonzalo Javier St.
Executive Director Executive Chairman 108 Jocfer Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue Cotabato City
Mobile: 09186236493 Pikit National Highschool Compound Quezon City Mobile No.:0928-3157279
Telefax: 063-225-4219 Poblacion, Pikit, Cotabato Mobile: 09174689886 Telefax: (064) 421-4439
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Mobile:09279904171 Bangsamoro Development Agency – Satellite Of ce
United Muslim Professional for Peace and Magungaya Center for PALMA Inc. Mr. Nasser Gayagay
Development Association Mindanao ComStrat and Policy Ms. Junalyn Gayak-Sumlay Focal Person
Purok Tumamin, Kalawag III, Isulan Alternative, Inc. Executive Director Poblacion Pikit, North Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat Atty. Charina Sanz Brgy. Nes, Midsayap, Cotabato Mobile: 09203077339
Mr. Quraish Langcap Chairperson Mobile: 09216522695 Email: [email protected]
Mobile:09168548513 Door 3, 2nd Floor, Rizal Pelicano Building Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected] McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Sustainable Alternatives for the Advancement
Tel. No.: (082) 3035901 Ulangig Mindanao, Inc. of Mindanao, Inc.
Mindanao Tulong Bakwet, Inc. Email: [email protected] Mr. Amildasa Annil Ms. Elizabeth M. Padilla
Ms. Fairudz Ibrahim-Ebus Chairman Door #3 Sangcopan Apartment, Purok Pag-asa
Executive Director Sakayan Mindanao Ulangig Mindanao, Inc. Baraas, Brgy. Tubod
Door 4, Guiapal Apartment Dr. Samsula Adju Blk 15 Lot 1 Hilhop Subd., Sinunuc Iligan City
38-B Anacleto Badoy Sr. Street, Cotabato City President Zamboanga City Mobile: 09182754846
Tel. No.: (064) 421-5521 Kakuyagan Village, Phase III Mobile: 09168216369/09295388208 Email: [email protected]
Telefax: (064) 421-9425 3Ks Drive, Jolo, Sulu Email: [email protected]
Mobile:09175484969 Email: [email protected] Basilan Advocates for Peace, Environment, and
Mobile: 09174956632 Peace and Development Advocate League, Inc. Sustainable Development Association
United Youth for Peace and Development Mr. Robert Apadan Mr. Modyr S. Tupay
Mr. Anwar Upahm Tribal Coalition of Mindanao Project Officer Brgy. Tabuk, Isabela City, Basilan
Datu Liwa Candao Street, Shariff Kabungsuan, RH-3, Mr. Datu Ronnie Q. Tuga Purok 7, Tienda Aplaya, Digos City Mobile: 09082889938
Cotabato City Secretary General Mobile: 09085056896 Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected] P6, Kinamlutan, Butuan City Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 09262607768 Email: [email protected] Bangsamoro Muslim Aid Philippines, Inc.
Mobile: 09203093689 Mindanao Action for Peace and Development Mr. Dagaman A. Dalanda, President
Peace Advocates of Sultan Kudarat Initiatives, Inc. Block 2, Purok Masagana, Kalawag II
Sr. Teresa Rose Salazar UnYPhil-Women Mr. Mahdie C. Amella Isulan, Sultan Kudarat
President Ms. Noraida Abo Executive Director Email: [email protected], [email protected]
c/o Campus Ministry, Notre Dame of Tacurong College Program Coordinator Email: [email protected] Mobile Number: 09057787041
Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat 2/s Candao Apartment, 1st St., Don E. Sero Mobile: 09088807784
Email: [email protected] Cotabato City
Mobile: 09208597821 Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 09164706613

Annex B | Documentation and Report Format
Please accomplish this form and keep in your record. You can use this NOTES
to apply for an award for a rido conflict resolution. Date:
Name of Police Station: .................................. Province of..............................

Address:............................................................................................................
Documenting officer:........................................ Phone: ....................................
Date: ................................................................................................................
Rido conflict between: ..................................... and .........................................
Location: ..........................................................................................................
Background/reason for the conflict:
Beginning tension: Date, place, people involved and situation

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
Police response: ..............................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
Crisis phase: Date, place, people involved and situation
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
Police response: ..............................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
Post-conflict: Date, place, people involved and situation
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
Police response: ..............................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
Justification for an award (casualties prevented, lives saved, good PNP
image, etc)
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
Submitted by:
......................................................................... Reported by:

NOTES

NOTES
A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 101
About the Book
This is a very timely book. If things continue to go well with the talks between the
government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and peace will nally be achieved in
the war zones, the next critical thing that all actors involved and concerned with sustaining
that peace is to nd ways to solve the more corrosive problem of rido. This critical guide
complements well the study produced by Asia Foundation on rido and adds on to it by
providing us with concrete measures on how to deal with the different actors at the local
level. Not only is this a must read, but everyone in the eld putting the peace process in
action needs to carry it with him/her.
Patricio N. Abinales
Professor,
School of Pacic and Asian Studies
University of Hawaii-Manoa and
author of Orthodoxy and History in the Muslim Mindanao Narrative (Ateneo Press, 2010)
This Rido Handbook is a commendable effort by the Philippine National Police to draw
from their own rich experiences in engaging rido in the eld and distilling lessons into
operational procedures for police personnel. It represents the continuing institutional
efforts to better understand clan violence and nd effective responses to it, amidst the
unique challenges of law enforcement in subnational conict areas of the Philippines.
Wilfredo Magno Torres III

The Asia Foundation and
Author/Editor of Rido: Clan Feuding and Conict Management in Mindanao (The Asia
Foundation, 2007)
Supported by the Australian Government - The Asia Foundation Partnership in the Philippines

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Chapter VII | Summary and Quicklist of Steps..............................84

A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 1

The typical consequences of rido are criminality, violence, and disrespect

2 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 3

6 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 7

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8 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 9

:>% Gender related offenses (13%) include eloping, wife grabbing,

M>% Theft (2%) of another clan’s possessions, including carnapping,

C>% Use or trafficking of illegal drugs, drunkenness, gambling (3%).

10 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 11

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24 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 25

1 | Effective communication Skills 5 | Neutrality or Impartiality

Effective communication skills are of utmost importance in conflict prevention.

26 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 27

Tool # 1: Applying the Rido Conflict Life Cycle Framework

30 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 31

The police role is to de-escalate the conflict and contain violence so as to

32 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 33

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Preparations: The Value of a Written Agreement

42 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 43

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Ngunit sa gitna ng puspusang Reflection questions:

54 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 55

3. Staying off the destructive track - Various kinds of behavior make

• Finger-pointing. Finding fault or blaming someone else does nothing

• Insults galore. Name-calling and other personal insults are not

• Verbal threats and ultimatums. Such outbursts intimidate some

• Defensiveness. Justifying your action instead of listening to what

• Avoidance. Running away from the problem and hoping that it

56 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 57

58 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 59

Case Number 3 | The Peace Covenant of the Muksan and

“Salaggu’laggu’ dusa, Malaggu’ pa in ampun”

The Peace Covenant of the Muksan and Sahidullah Clans

60 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 61

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In Cotabato, Provincial Director Monteagudo gave due emphasis to the

68 A Practical Guide for the Police & other Community Peacekeepers 69

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