CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga–The Provincial Advisory Council (PAC) for the Kalinga Provincial Police Office approved two resolutions asking the intervention of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) in resolving the Tulgao-Tongrayan and Bugnay-Betwagan sub-tribal conflicts.
Tulgao, Tongrayan and Bugnay are sub-tribes in Tinglayan municipality while Betwagan is a sub-tribe of Sadanga, Mountain Province. The sub-tribes severed their peace pacts over boundary disputes which were not resolved for a long time.
Early this month, Tulgao and Tongrayan exchanged “Sipat” (peace tokens) ending hostilities and to pave the way for peace negotiations.
In passing the resolutions, the PAC chaired by Engr. Andres Ngao-i felt the need for the PPOC to intervene since the problem concerns yjr provincial boundary between the provinces of Kalinga and Mtn. Province.
It is also in consideration of the appeal of the Sagada LGU for people involved in tribal conflicts to spare the municipality from any reprisal. Sagada is second home of people from Tinglayan studying in the resort town.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Sagada reiterated in Resolution No. 02 s. 2020 declaring the whole territorial jurisdiction of the town of Sagada as a “tribal conflict- free” municipality. “The people of Sagada consider other people in the community their siblings and friends thus denounce any form of harassment that befall them,” the resolution reads.
On the other hand, the Municipal Peace and Order Council of Sagada also passed Resolution No. 01 s. 2020 earnestly imploring the Cordillera Bodong Association to immediately find an alternative peaceful resolution in terminating the Tinglayan (Tongrayan)-Tulgao and Betwagan-Bugnay tribal conflicts.
Said legislative body strongly believes that this cycle of violence is detrimental to resources, livelihood and development of the people and the community as well as cultivates intrinsic animosity between the conflicting groups. **JDP/PAB-PIA CAR Kalinga
