The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is aware that the threat of rido or family feud remains even if it has already reminded its personnel to refrain from exacting revenge following the killing of four soldiers in Jolo, Sulu last week.

Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), admitted on Monday that it will be difficult to contain a possible rido between the families of the nine cops involved in the shooting incident and one of the slain soldiers, Corporal Abdal Asula, who is a Muslim.

Rido is a Moro term which is commonly referred to as a clan or family feud. 

It begins when one party claims to have been wronged by another party and, as a result, triggers revenge. 

"Ang hindi lang namin mapipigilan o mapigilan man pero pwedeng suwagan nila, itong kultura dito sa Bangsamoro Region na 'yung tinatawag na rido (What we won't be able to prevent, or maybe we can but they will resist it, is the culture of rido here in Bangsamoro Region)," Sobejana said.

"Kasi itong rido, family against a family so ito 'yung inaantabayanan at mino-monitor closely (A rido involves a family against a family so this is what we are monitoring closely)," he added.

According to Sobejana, Asula has five brothers and one of them is also a soldier. 

He wishes that Asula's brothers will exercise restraint as he assured them that the incident "will not be taken for granted."

Asula's family also has relatives in the Philippine Army, according to Major General Cornelio Vinluan, commander of 11th Infantry Division (11ID) and Joint Task Force Sulu.

"Lima na lang silang naiwan pero hindi tayo nagkukulang sa pagpaalala sa kanila na hayaan na nating lumabas ang imbestigasyon at titiyakin natin na ang hustisya ay maibigay (They are now only five of them remaining but we are not lacking in reminding them to let the investigation take place and we assure them that justice will be served)," Sobejana said.

"Hindi naman ito basta pababayaan lang (We will not let this incident be taken for granted)," he stated.

Meanwhile, Vinluan assured that no troops will seek for revenge as he said the visit of President Duterte last Friday has helped in easing the tension between the military and police in Sulu.

"Walang babawi. Nakausap ko na 'yung mga commanders na pabayaan na lang natin 'yung NBI na ituloy 'yung investigation nila. Anyway, na-identify na 'yung siyam naman and sila na ang bahala (No one will get revenge. I have already talked to the commanders and I told them to let the National Bureau of Investigation conduct its investigation. Anyway, the nine cops have already been identified and it's up to them already)," Vinluan said.

He said the military has since returned to work following the sacking of the nine cops. 

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa said the suspects will be transported to Manila within the week as part of the investigation. 

The transport, however, is expected to be delayed since one of the cops tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), prompting officials to subject them to quarantine.

"Wala naman na 'yung siyam na PNP personnel so back to normal na lang kami uli dito (The nine PNP personnel will be gone so we are back to normal)," Vinluan said. 

Sobejana said he has already coordinated with religious leaders, traditional leaders and local government officials to further ease the tension between the families involved in the incident.