CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga, – – The Butbut and Betwagan tribes living in their respective ancestral homelands support the peace covenant forged between their tribe members residing in this city.
Through separate resolutions, both tribes expressed their approval to the peace agreement that prohibits bringing the conflict anywhere else or outside Betwagan in Sadanga, Mountain Province and Butbut in Tinglayan, this province.
Said agreement signed on August 7 at Davidson Hotel here provides for both tribes living in Tabuk City to uphold the principles of the Matagoan or “Zone of Life” and the provisions of the iTabuk Pagta, most particularly not to take revenge against or harm any from their tribes living in this city, in all provinces or city within the Cordillera Administrative Region, in the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, and Metro Manila.
In a joint resolution signed on August 10, punong barangays of Ngibat, Butbut Proper, Loccong, Buscalan and Bugnay, expressed their support to the peace covenant for the benefit of government employees, students and farmers living outside Butbut including those in Sadanga.
The punong barangays understand that the signing of the Peace Covenant is an indication of the effectivity of the peace process between the two parties. Ultimately, it is also to protect individuals who are innocent living outside the war zone.
Revenge or killing of a person outside the declared war zone will not help solve the boundary dispute but to make innocent people who have no knowledge on the issues to engage in tribal conflict. “This is a perfect gentlemen’s agreement pending the permanent peaceful resolution of the boundary dispute,” the resolution states.
On the part of the Betwagan tribe, their resolution of support to the peace covenant signed on August 14 was sealed with their prayer for the provisions to be respected and imposed in letter and spirit.
“Umili ti Betwagan ken Anabel babaen ti barangay opsiyal ket umannugot da ditoy peace covenant basta ti Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council ket tungpalen da ti akem, takder ken responsibilidad da akas negosyador ti sensiredad wenno pateg na daytoy. No man mabug-oy daytoy, dakau nga negosyador nga pinmirma ti maysa nga masingir.(The residents of Betwagan and Anabel thru their barangay officials agree to this peace covenant provided the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council do their role and responsibility as negotiators sincerely. Should this fail, the negotiators who signed in this agreement will be blamed.)
It added that Betwagan students, workers and those living in Apayao, Cagayan and Isabela, and those from subtribes of Betwagan living in TabukCity are not to be included in this conflict.
The respective Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Kalinga and Mountain Province are now brokering for a permanent resolution of this decades-long dispute. **JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga
