Army foils a rido in Lanao

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Iligan City (18 November). An army patrol in search of the MILF groups responsible for the havoc in Lanao del Norte encountered an armed group believed to be preparing to launch a reprisal attack at Salvador town of Lanao del Norte.

Col Benito de Leon, the 104^th Infantry Brigade Commander, reported that at 1:30 p.m. today, troops belonging to the 35^th Infantry Battalion dispatched to check the presence of armed elements at Sitio Bayabao of Salvador town got engaged in a skirmish with a group of about 20. While no casualties were accounted in the firefight, this resulted in the capture of eight individuals suspected to be associated with the MILF, the recovery of a shotgun, caliber 30 ammunitions, handheld radios, military packs, and uniforms.

The army commander disclosed that initial investigations showed the group to be linked with a prominent MILF leader who intended to do a “rido” (armed settlement of family feuds) in exacting revenge with another prominent political personality in the area.

Lanao had been known for the practice of ridos. Just last week, series of such incidents occurred in the nearby municipality of Magsaysay. This prompted the Army to deploy forces in the area to deter the recurrence of violence. Dialogues with the populace where also undertaken by the military and the local government executives in an attempt to stop rido.

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro during his visit over the weekend also issued instructions to the military to similarly treat as criminals those who undertake the practice of rido. Teodoro reminded the public that the courts are the only acceptable and lawful institutions for the settlement of disputes to ensure peace and order in a civilized society.