The Department of Justice and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity are evaluating how locally brokered peace settlements in rido, or clan feuds, can be incorporated into criminal cases in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida said the primary goal is to create a system that acknowledges ongoing dialogue while preserving legal accountability, following the signing of a memorandum establishing a joint technical working group.
The working group will examine ways to factor verified community‑based settlements into prosecutions without compromising prosecutorial discretion or judicial independence.
Many rido incidents arise from land disputes and are traditionally resolved through negotiations among families, tribal leaders and religious elders rather than through punitive measures alone.
Vida warned that measuring success solely by conviction rates fails to achieve reconciliation, noting that criminal complaints often proceed independently of local peace efforts and can undermine community settlements.
He highlighted that the Department of Justice has a 120‑day window to complete a preliminary investigation, but outcomes that exacerbate conflict leave families feeling denied justice and create further problems.
Government monitoring recorded 161 rido and other community‑based conflict incidents from 2023 through April 2026.
OPAPRU Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento emphasized the long‑standing role of local governments, traditional leaders and religious authorities in preventing clan feuds from escalating.
He explained that imprisoning an offender does not halt cycles of retaliation, as the loss of a family member often prompts further violence.
The proposed mechanism seeks to support grassroots reconciliation while preserving the justice system’s role, aiming to resolve retaliatory acts locally in accordance with regional cultural practices.
Vida affirmed that any framework developed will comply with the Constitution and existing laws, ensuring that guidelines strictly adhere to the rule of law and pursue genuine justice.
The Constitution’s recognition of customary law provides a legal basis for integrating traditional dispute‑resolution mechanisms with formal justice processes.
The technical working group will be co‑led by representatives from the Department of Justice and OPAPRU and will include officials from the BARMM Ministry of Public Order and Safety, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the police, local government units, traditional justice institutions and other stakeholders.
The agencies aim to finalize draft guidelines by September 30 and will determine whether implementation requires new legislation or Supreme Court action before integration into the national justice system.
