Philippine DOJ, OPAPRU Explore Integrating Local Peace Deals in Criminal Cases

By Mark Joseph M. Sanchez THE Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) are studying how locally brokered peace settlements in rido or clan feuds could be considered in criminal cases in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), saying convictions alone do not always end violence or deliver lasting justice. “Our main objective here is to establish a system that recognizes that while talks are under way, legal accountability is not cast aside,” Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida said after the two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement on Tuesday creating a joint technical working group (TWG). The panel will study how verified community-based peace settlements may be factored into criminal proceedings “without diminishing prosecutorial discretion or judicial independence,” according to the DoJ. Mr. Vida said the initiative aims to bridge the gap between formal criminal prosecution and traditional conflict resolution, noting that many rido cases in BARMM stem from land disputes and are settled through negotiations among families, tribal leaders and religious elders rather than through punishment alone. “But what happens, given the context, is that [the approach] does not actually resolve the issue of reconciliation,” he told a news briefing in Filipino after the signing, referring to measuring success solely through prosecution and conviction rates. He said criminal complaints often continue independently of local peace efforts, creating situations where legal proceedings could undermine settlements already being pursued by communities. “At the DoJ, we have 120 days to resolve a preliminary investigation” he said. “But if, at the end of those 120 days, the outcome [brings more] conflict and more chaos, [and the families] feel they have not attained justice, then it has only given rise to more issues and more problems.” Government monitoring recorded 161 ridos and other community-based conflict incidents from 2023 to April 2026, according to the DoJ. OPAPRU Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento said local governments, traditional leaders and religious authorities have long played a key role in preventing clan feuds from escalating. “Even if you imprison the offender, it will not stop the cycle of wiping out entire clans,” he said in Filipino. “One side loses a member, then they retaliate against the other. It never ends.” He said the proposed mechanism seeks to support grassroots reconciliation while preserving the role of the justice system. “But with this mechanism, initiated at the grassroots level and supported by the [National Government], we hope to stop these retaliatory acts by resolving them locally and in accordance with the culture of the area,” he added. Mr. Vida said any framework proposed by the TWG would comply with the Constitution and existing laws. “We will ensure that whatever guidelines and rules are drafted will strictly adhere to the Constitution and the rule of law,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to achieve genuine justice.” He noted that the Constitution recognizes customary law as one of the sources of Philippine law, providing a legal basis for exploring how traditional dispute resolution mechanisms could complement the formal justice system. The TWG will be co-headed by representatives from the DoJ and OPAPRU and include officials from the BARMM Ministry of Public Order and Safety, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, local government units, traditional justice institutions and other stakeholders. Mr. Vida said the agencies are targeting to complete draft guidelines by Sept. 30 and determine whether implementing the framework would require legislation or action by the Supreme Court before it could be integrated into the country’s justice system.