Two warring groups in far Abra town sign peace pact

BY DEXTER A SEE

BANGUED, Abra – A peace pact between two warring political groups in Tineg led by Mayor Edwin Crisologo Sr. of the “Crisologo Group” and Lenin Benwaren of the “Benwaren Group” was forged during a recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting at the Provincial Capital Social Hall here.

The signing was witnessed by Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin; Col. Loreto Rirao, commanding officer of the 503rd Infrantry Brigade; Mayors League President Rolando Somera; Governor Eustaquio P. Bersamin; members of PPOC; elders of Tineg and supporters of both political groups.

The signatories in the memorandum of agreement embodying the peace pact stipulated the conditions that both parties agreed to fulfill in the pursuit of peace and order in their municipality, particularly the cessation of hostilities and political killings.

The political unrest in Tineg, the remote upland town of Abra, had been keeping this resource-rich municipality from catching up with the other municipalities in the province in terms of social services and physical infrastructure development.

Tineg has always been tagged as the area of concern by the provincial police office because of the clashes between the supporters of the two warring political parties.

The clashes have often resulted in deaths of not only the supporters, but also innocent people.

This has created animosity between the relatives and the residents and has ruined the peace in Tineg.

The elders lamented that despite the cultural and customary practices of peace-keeping in this indigenous peoples’ community, they have failed to attain and sustain the peace that they had in the past and yearn to regain in their old age.

Everyone agrees that peace could be attained only if and when the pace efforts begin the two warring political leaders.

In last month’s PPOC meeting, he expressed his optimism that peace negotiations would eventually bear fruit, and this led to the coming of the two political groups together at one place, and resulted in the signing of the peace covenant.

The covenant also stipulated, among others, the following prohibited acts aimed at sustaining peace:
The parties refrain from uttering invective words that tend to incite armed struggle towards each other;
That parties refrain from harboring law violators such as but not limited to cattle rustlers, thieves, members of the revolutionary New People’s Army or members of private armed groups or syndicates.
In this connection, each party reports to the law-enforcement agency should any of the above lawless elements be spotted or apprehended in their area of responsibility.
The parties likewise minimize the frequent visit to areas identified as their bailiwicks. This is intended to minimize tension in the area. Also, there should be no excessive armed personnel in both groups.

The people of Tineg have expressed gratitude for the gesture of peace by two parties and aired hope for the sincerity and commitment of each other in the efforts to sustain peace.