By Bonita Ermac Iligan City – Two political families have agreed to end a decades-old feud, or “rido,”  after the military was able to broker a peace agreement between them, January 22, at the 103rd Infantry Brigade (103rd IB) headquarters in Kampo Ranao in Marawi City. According to 103rd IB commander Col. Generosity M. Ponio, the families of Tugaya Mayor Al Fatah Pacalna Balindong and Bacolod Kalawi Vice Mayor Diarangan Dipatuan have agreed to bury the hatchet after more than 50 years of conflict. The 103rd IB is under Joint Task Force Ranao. The families concluded their clan war by swearing before the holy Qur’an. They also turned in two caliber-50 Sniper barrette rifles; six 7.2mm M14 rifles; seven 5.56mm M16 rifles; four 40mm M203 grenade launchers; three 40mm M79 grenade launchers; a caliber .30 machine gun and a caliber .30 browning automatic rifle. The settlement was successfully brokered by Vice Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr., provincial PNP units, local religious leaders and other members of civil society and the government. Norjana Ducol Dipaturan, daughter of Diarangan Dipatuan, the feud started way back in 1964 when the two families found themselves locked in fierce political rivalry in the province. In 1971, a “rido” started that resulted in the death of members of both families. A settlement was actually forged in 1986, as brokered by former Lanao del Sur Governor Ali Dimaporo, which lasted for 30 years. But the peace between the two families was shattered in the 2016 elections when protagonists from both sides figured in highly contested political contests. In forging this latest peace agreement, Norjana said: “Inaasahan namin na iyong mga commitment nila, commitment namin sa gobyerno, gagawin ng bawat isa na ipagpapatuloy namin iyong kapayapaan at wala ng rido at wala ng patayan, para magkaroon po naman kami  ng peace of mind. (We are hoping that their commitment, our commitment to the government, each one will commit to peace, and that there will be no more ‘rido,’ or killings so that each of us will have) “peace of mind”. Meanwhile, Maj. Gen.  Roseller G. Murillo, Commander, First Infantry (Tabak) Division congratulated all the parties involved in the peaceful settlement of the decades-old family feud. “I commend the 103rd Infantry Brigade for the successful mediation that led to the peaceful settlement of a violent family feud that has caused the lives of many from both sides and affected the peace in the area for so many years,” Murillo said.