Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua has called on all elected barangay officials in the province to help settle “rido” (family feud), saying this is un-Islamic and anti-development.

“In Muslim communities, the prevailing issue now is ‘rido’ or clan war,” Macacua told over 400 village and youth officials during the mass oath-taking here on Thursday afternoon.

The new local officials from the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections were from the towns of North Upi, South Upi, Mother Kabuntalan, and Northern Kabuntalan.

“I need your help, there can be no development in a community when people are finding each other, relatives against relatives,” Macacua said.  “As village chairpersons, you are directed to settle ‘rido’ in your barangays.”

He also warned elected officials not to engage in clan war themselves and be role models in their communities, and urged them to practice the “moral governance” initiative being advocated by the BARMM government.

Replacing the decades-old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the BARMM was formed with the ratification of its basic law, following a two-part referendum in 2019.

The BARMM covers the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and also the 63 villages in six towns of North Cotabato province that voted “yes” for inclusion to the fledgling region. (PNA)

Photo credit: Facebook/MagDelNorte