Unlike crimes committed in other regions of the Philippines which normally deal with the judiciary or the courts, the City Government of Tabuk, through its Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council (MBCC) and Community Affairs Office (CAO) has its own way of amicably settling disputes embedded in its culture.
In a report presented by Oliver Layugan, Community Affairs Officer III during the third quarter City Peace and Order Council meeting held on September 27, he said that 12 cases were solved from January to August, this year.
Some of these cases, he said were land conflict, serious physical injuries, frustrated homicide, family conflict, and vehicular accidents resulting in homicide.
Layugan reminded that the indigenous ways of conflict resolution are based on the Alternative Dispute Resolution under the Supreme Court and the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (RA 8371).
Aside from the expeditious nature of dealing with conflicts being filed at the MBCC and CAO, which is a creative innovation of the LGU, advantages, he said, include financial help from the city government, and the restoration of relationship between both parties which contributes to the peace an order.
He said that amicable settlement as an alternative mode of dispute resolution is acceptable in order to ease court dockets. ** Darwin S. Serion/Tabuk City Information Office
