The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of the province has declared the disputed area in the boundary between this province and Kalinga as “No man’s land”.
It is to be noted that Betwagan in Sandanga and Bubut tribe in Tinglayan, Kalinga were at loggerheads with each other since the outbreak of the conflict in 2001.
It was caused by the dispersal of all male cattle (bulls) on the part of Kalinga pasture in the conflict area. The cows there belonged to Betwagan farmers. Calls for the Butbut tribal owners to withdraw their bullss instigated the boundary conflict.
In 2002, the tribal leaders and elders from Betwagan, Sadanga and Butbut and Bugnay, Tonglayan, Kalinga entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to restore their severed peaceful and harmonious relationships.
The MOA was witnessed by both former Mountain Province Governor Sario Malinias and former Kalinga Governor Macario Duguiang.
In 2017, the campaign against illegal drugs too intensified the conflict. Folks from Betwagan uprooted marijuana plantations of those from Bugnay in the conflict territory.
Then the so called Macli-ing boundary was invoked to be followed in a meeting of the concerned tribes on June 7, 2018. It is still in question.
In an effort to finally solve the boundary dispute peacefully, elders from both Betwagan and Butbut/Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga entered again into a MOA authorizing both Sangguniang Panlalawigans of Mountain Province and Kalinga to settle the problem using existing laws.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Sadanga, in a session on January 21, 2019, also requested the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mountain Province to initiate the joint meeting with the Sagguniang Palalawigan of Kalinga to settle the boundary dispute.
On April 24, 2020, Betwagan Barangay Chairman Agustin Agpawan and Bugnay, Tinglayan Barangay Chairman Rober Dumpao signed an agreement before the 503rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Calan, Tabuk City not to bring firearms when they go to Mount Ikar, the disputed territory, to tend to their cattle.
A shooting incident at Mount Ikar on May 23, 2020 ruined the agreement.
PPOC Resolution No. 1, series 2020 cites the long sought settlement of the boundary since 2001 through the indigenous way and through government processes. Until now the problem persists.
The resolution states “to declare Mount Ikar and all disputed areas as “Non Man’s Land” where apart from the elements of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police, no individual from both barangays could enter the said area except on scheduled days when they tend to their cattle”.
The SP from both provinces had met twice but no positive settlement was arrived at. They, meantime will continue to meet to finally find ways and means to settle the lingering boundary dispute.** Roger Sacyaten
