Members of the feuding Pajid Yusop Ubaidulla and Rasmin Asara families are seen reconciling in the presence of the Philippine Army and community leaders. Image Source: 1102nd Infantry Brigade, Philippines News Agency

The resolution came on August 20th through a peace covenant, facilitated by the combined efforts of local officials, the military, and concerned community members.

The feud involved the families of Pajid Yusop Ubaidulla and Rasmin Asara. Brigadier General Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, who commands the Army’s 1102nd Infantry Brigade, stated that the conflict was rooted in a shooting incident that took place on June 18, 2024, in Barangay Kan-Bulak, Luuk.

That event led to the death of Nurikman Padjid. Just days later, on June 22, an ambush in Barangay Kan-Asaali, Panamao claimed the life of Asbi Mallah and left two of Asara’s relatives wounded.

The feud was trigged by the death of Nurikman Padjid, which was followed by a retaliatory ambush that claimed the life of Asbi Mallah and left two of Asara’s relatives wounded.

Such conflicts, locally known as rido, are clan feuds that have long plagued communities in Mindanao and the southern Philippines. These disputes often stem from land disagreements, political rivalries, personal offenses, or crimes against honor. What distinguishes rido from common disputes is their persistence across generations and the intense, retaliatory nature of the violence involved.

Ridos are clan feuds that have long plagued communities in Mindanao and the southern Philippines.

In many cases, such family feuds do not occur in isolation. It frequently intersects with larger regional tensions, including armed struggles by insurgent groups.

One case involved a 21-year rido between the Mangansakan and Tayuan families. With members of the Tayuan clan affiliated with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the rival Mangansakan family sought military backing. The resulting escalation displaced over 3,000 families across four municipalities, demonstrating the destabilizing impact of third-party involvement in clan wars.

One 21-year rido resulted displaced over 3,000 families across four municipalities with the involvement of the MNLF and the Philippine military.

Efforts to prevent clan violence have intensified in recent years. Earlier this month, the 1102nd Infantry Brigade helped mediate a feud involving two families from the towns of Panamao and Panglima Estino. One family was led by Al-Quazar Alhari Basaluddin, a farmer from Sitio Kandangan in Barangay Kan-ukol, Panamao. The other was represented by Hadja Jimbra Ammar, the barangay chairperson (chief administrator of the Philippines’ smallest local unit) of Kami Pungod in Panglima Estino.

Earlier this month, the 1102nd Infantry Brigade also helped mediate a feud involving a barangay chairperson.

The conflict began on August 21, 2024, when Basaluddin allegedly fired at Ammar over a land dispute. Although she was not injured, the incident deepened tensions between the families, eventually prompting military and community leaders to step in and broker peace.

Longstanding feuds have also been in the spotlight recently. In June of this year, a 27-year-old rido involving families from Barangays Tanduh and Lunggang Maasin was officially resolved through a peace pact facilitated by the Bangsamoro Government and partner organizations.

In another case, on March 13, three clan feuds were simultaneously settled in the municipality—conflicts that spanned three decades across Barangays Bud Seit/Kan-ukol, Lakit, and Lower Patibulan. It marked the first instance of multiple rido being resolved on the same day in the province.

These resolutions are often made possible through hybrid justice systems—a combination of traditional and formal mechanisms where the Philippine army, local officials, religious leaders, and community elders all play a role. While the country’s formal judicial system remains in place, local and customary authorities often command greater trust and legitimacy in these settings, enabling negotiated settlements where courts may fall short.

Indeed, the military unit involved with many feud resolutions, the 1102nd Infantry Brigade, was founded in 2022 with a wide mission centered on community involvement, delivering essential services, and promoting peace and conflict resolution.

The 1102nd Infantry Brigade was founded in 2022 with a wide mission centered on community involvement and conflict resolution.

As peace-building efforts continue in a region still grappling with violent crime and poverty, the resolution of even small-scale clan feuds contributes to wider regional stability. Preventing clan conflicts in Sulu remains a significant priority requiring the full focus of both government institutions and local community leaders.

REFERENCES

Bangsamoro Information Office. (2025, March 27). 3 decades of rido end in Panamao, Sulu. Bangsamoro Information Office. https://bangsamoro.gov.ph

Bangsamoro Information Office. (2025, June 25). BARMM, partners end 27-year rido in Sulu thru peace pact. Bangsamoro Information Office. https://bangsamoro.gov.ph

Damiani, M. (2022, December 6). The nexus between clan feuding and wider armed conflict in the southern Philippines. Institute for Autonomy and Governance. https://theiacs.org/topics

Garcia, Jr., T. (2025, August 1). Sulu land feud settled with Army’s help. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph

Garcia, Jr., T. (2025, August 21). 2 warring clans in Sulu sign peace pact. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/

Lacson, N. (2025, August 22). Peace covenant ends bloody Sulu rido. Daily Tribune. https://tribune.net.ph

SunStar Zamboanga. (2025, June 21). 20-year feud in Luuk, Sulu amicably settled. SunStar Publishing Inc. https://www.sunstar.com.ph

Unson, J. (2024, March 19). Warring Sulu clans end 50-year bloody 'rido'. Philstar Global Corp. https://www.philstar.com