TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Kalinga Provincial Police Office has appealed to the members of two tribes currently involved in boundary dispute to exert efforts to avoid hostilities.
The Kalinga PPO, headed by its director Col. Charles Domallig, called for a restoration of peace pact between the tribes of Betwagan in Sadanga, Mt. Province and the Bugnay-Butbut in Tinglayan, Kalinga during a dialogue held at the Dap-ay Hall, Camp Captain Juan M. Duyan, in Bulanao, Tabuk city on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
Domallig told the warring tribes to resolve the dispute and reassured the Philippine National Police’s assistance for them to maintain peace and order in their respective localities.
The negotiation, held in coordination with the Kalinga Local Government Unit (LGU), was presided over by Kalinga Bodong Council of Elders Chairperson, Mr. Johnny Maymaya.
During the dialogue, both tribes brought out their sentiments and demands regarding the issues on their boundary dispute.
The meeting concluded with high hopes of resolving the longstanding conflict between the Betwagan and Bugnay-Butbut.
On August 10, 2020, Tabuk City Mayor Darwin Estrañero initiated the forging of the peace agreement between the elders of the Butbut subtribe from Tinglayan and Betwagan subtribe of Mt. Province, residing in the city amid their ongoing tribal war.
A peace agreement to uphold the principles of the Matagoan or ‘Zone of Life’ and the provisions of the Itabuk Pagta was signed so that both parties would not to do any form of revenge within Tabuk City, including all provinces and city within the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, and Metro Manila.
Both parties pledged to take responsibility for preventing member/s of their respective tribes from seeking revenge within Tabuk City and the other places mentioned.
They also agreed to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines and PNP in the identification of violator/s of the peace agreement from their respective subtribes.