ILIGAN CITY, Philippines—Actor Robin Padilla, who is an "ambassador for peace" of the United Nation’s Action on Conflict and Transformation for Peace, said he was willing to mediate in clan feuds in Mindanao, including in Maguindanao, but added that warlords should be disarmed first.

Padilla spoke before an Interfaith forum held at the Elena Hotel here Friday.

“I was asked if I was willing to go to Maguindanao. Seriously I am more than willing to go if my presence is needed there so that warring clans make peace with each other,” said the actor, a convert to Islam.

Padilla was referring to the clan war between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus.

On November 23, several Mangudadatu clan members, their supporters and at least 30 journalists were killed by a group of armed men allegedly led by Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao.

At least 64 people are known to have been killed in the carnage based on the number of bodies found strewn about on a grassy field and buried in a mass grave in Maguindanao.

Padilla, who once served time for illegal possession of firearms, said peace was possible only if if nobody points a gun at anybody.

“The manifestation of peace is a gunless society,” he said in Filipino.

Padilla later told reporters he hoped “no efforts will be spared to prosecute those responsible for the Maguindanao carnage so that justice will be served to the families of the victims.”

Padilla said it was a shame that the incident took place when Mindanao was celebrating the Week of Peace.

“Warlords should be disarmed so that peace will reign,” he said.

Padilla also quoted a Koranic verse saying all people belong to one family and that there was no need to fight each other, when he called for unity among Mindanaoans.

In Digos City, Muslims also urged warring families to stop the violence, saying innocent civilians were always at the losing end.

Officials of the Davao del Sur Agama Islamic Center cited the Maguindanao carnage as one example of unarmed individuals being caught in conflicts.

Ibrahim Rimakuta, an official of the center, said the massacre was unspeakable and has to be condemned.

Alimun Dimapundog, another Muslim leader, said if only politicians learned to live by the teachings of the Koran and the Hadith (Prophet Muhammad’s teachings), there would be no violence.

He blamed hunger for power as the culprit in the Maguindanao massacre.