Brewing Kalinga tribal war diffused by elders, PNP men

BAGUIO CITY – A brewing tribal war between the Mangali and Lobo tribes of Kalinga due to a murder of a member of the former has been diffused following a dialogue last week of tribal leaders initiated by the regional police office.

In attendance here at the city police office headquarters were around 60 leaders and members of the Kalinga Organization of Baguio-Benguet with regional police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong.

A police report said prominent leaders and members including police personnel belonging to the tribes in Kalinga took the opportunity to raise issues and ventilate their sentiments.

At the end of the meeting, the attendees unanimously deplored the Kalinga culture of violence and retribution, the report said.

They reportedly assured the Philippine National Police that they will abide by the rule of law and gave their commitment that they will restrain their youths and students from being involved in any violence.

On Jan. 18, a brewing tribal war was reported between members of the Mangali and Lobo tribes following the killing of Samuel Luminang (Mangali) on Jan. 17 in Tabuk City, Kalinga.

On Jan. 19, at about 9:40 a.m. personnel of Barangay Bulanao police in Tabuk arrested suspect Freddie Tumbali (Lobo) at his residence in Purok 5, Bulanao. T

The arrest was made by virtue of a warrant of arrest for nmurder issued by the regional trial court.

Tumbali is no detained at Tabuk City Police Station.

Earlier, on Jan.18, Senior Supt. Benjamin Lusad, Benguet police director and Tuba town police met with mine workers and leaders of the Mangali and Lobo Tribes in Philex Mines to discuss the incident and avert hostilities between members of the two rival tribes.

According to reliable sources, the immediate arrest of Tumbali diffused the tension between the two tribes as parents and relatives of the victim cautioned Mangali tribe members to exercise restraint

Police have intensified patrols and mobile checkpoints in identified areas and has not monitored a single crime incident that is related to the issue.

In La Trinidad, Benguet – Chief Supt. Magalong asked Kalinga students of Benguet State University to speak up and confront their elders about the fragile peace and order in Kalinga.

This was during the Kalinga student’s forum Jan. 26 at BSU.

The activity was organized by the BSU office of student affairs following a request from the regional police office attended by almost 100 BSU students who are from Kalinga.

“This is all about student empowerment, it’s about time the youth and students of Kalinga speak up and craft the direction where Kalinga should really go,” Magalong said.

He added a long lasting solution on the peace and order problem will always come from the youth who will eventually inherit Kalinga.

Magalong advised the students to be dynamic and progressive without necessarily fighting their elders.

The forum was attended by Samuel Bumangil, president of the Kalinga Organization of Baguio and Benguet.

He assured that the forum is the first of a series that will be conducted at other schools in Baguio and Benguet as a part of an information drive.

Also present during the forum were Senior Supt. Benjamin M. Lusad of the Benguet Police Provincial Office, Judge Francis A. Buliyat, BSU vice president for administration, Dr. Alfredo C. Tipayno and BSU faculty club president Dr. Marcos A. Buliyat. – With reports from Jen Sabado-Tabangcura