2 feuding families settle disputes

TWO families who were engaged in almost six years of sporadic armed confrontations in one of the towns in Basilan province have settled their disputes with the intercession from the military, officials announced.

Brigadier General Fernando Reyeg, Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade commander, said the feuding families’ disputes was finally settled Thursday through the intercession of the 4th Special Forces Battalion.

Reyeg said they are all residents of the village of Lawi-Lawi in the town of Lantawan as he withheld their identities.

Lieutenant Colonel Achilles Dela Cruz, Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion commander, said the feuding families pledged to embrace peace and live in eternal harmony during the peace covenant signing held his command’s headquarters in the village of Cabunbata, Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province.

Dela Cruz noted that the sporadic armed confrontations have resulted to great damage of properties and unnecessary loss of innocent lives.

Meanwhile, the feuding families together with the village officials of Lantawan, as a show of support and gratitude to the military, voluntarily surrendered their firearms to Dela Cruz.

In turn, Dela Cruz formally presented a total of 43 assorted high-powered firearms to Reyeg, during the signing of the peace covenant ceremony. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)