Kalinga tribes denounce revenge to obtain justice

By Peter A. Balocnit

TANUDAN, Kalinga -- Three sub-tribes this province recently denounced revenge as a means of obtaining justice and agreed to settle conflicts amicably among  them.

The tribes of Mangali this municipality, Balbalasang in Balbalan and Tulgao of Tinglayan agreed in their respective “pagta” (provisions of the podon or peacepact) to resolve cases including heinous crimes at their level without severing the peacepact.

However, it was also agreed during the Pagta deliberation that parties  respect the choice of aggrieved parties if they bring their case before government courts with the peacepact  intact.

The parties agreed whatever decision of the court on such cases must be accepted and respected by peacepact holders of both sub-tribes.

Last month, two peace pacts were celebrated here between the tribe of Mangali and two other sub-tribes outside of this municipality.

The “podon” between Mangali and Balbalasang was earlier commemorated April 20-22 and that of the Mangali-Tulgaopeacepact was on April 27-29.

Some 86 tribesmen from Balbalasang in Balbalan composed of elders, women and youth attended the 3-day celebration while 60 from Tulgao of Tinglayan came to Mangali.

During the deliberation of their respective constitution and by-laws, peacepact holders made it clear that the podon supports the government’s lawmaking and enforcement systems.

All peacepacts holders - Antonio Gumabol and Rudy Wandagan for Mangali with Balbalasang and Tulgao respectively; Allen Jesse Mangaonag for Balbalasang and Baggas of Tulgao - emphasized that the podon complements national and local laws.

The Podon, a customary practice of the iKalingas helps maintain peace and order and bridges them to  resolve misunderstandings.

The Podon mainly protects  territory (bugis), life (biyag), property (sanikuwa), and dignity (dayaw).