MORE NEWS, KALINGA

Tabuk City council outlaws tribal war
BY LARRY LOPEZ

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Efforts in making this city a haven of peace is gaining support of residents as the city’s Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council moves to outlaw tribal war in the heart of Tabuk.

During its recent 3rd general assembly, this peace body of the city government resolved to establish new policies affirming the “no gopas” principle within the Matagoan Zone of the city comprised of seven major barangays.

The new policies were deliberated and accepted by the other tribes residing here in the city, who expressed support to the Matagoan principle.

“No gopas” prohibits any tribe from cutting-off its peace pact with the other tribe in cases of tribal conflict, thereby preventing the breaking of tribal war within the Matagoan Zone or Zone of Peace.
The Matagoan principle advocated by the city leadership has settled cases which could have caused serious tribal violence.

The council in its new policies resolved to impose penalties on any tribe that deliberately cuts its peace pact or bodong with another tribe for violence.

In cases when a bodong holder requests to relinquish his position for reasons like transfer of his title to other members of his tribe or for matters beyond his control as explained before the council, he may not be covered by the policy.

Among the new policies which are still to be submitted for ratification in the 4th council general assembly include the penalty of one carabao or its cash equivalent to any tribe staging offensive attack to another within the seven Matagoan Barangays of Dagupan Centro, Dagupan Weste, Magsaysay, Appas, San Juan, Bulanao and Bulanao Norte.

The same policy provides that of the total amount of the penalty, 50 percent will go to the MBCC and the other 50 percent will go to the barangay.

In cases of violent inflictions, the acceptance of “papod” or peace token by the aggrieved tribe does not mean the offended member can not pursue the case before the courts. Acceptance of the papod only would mean the offended member of the tribe will not result to violent retaliation, which could aggravate the case, and that offended member of the tribe is willing to settle the case peaceably.

In the matter of fair treatment among immigrant ethnic groups with Kalinga tribes in instances of penalties, where the issue on double standard is raised, the council proposed to the sangguniang panglunsod to adopt ordinances to that effect.

Part of its move to ensure equal footing before the bodong system, the MBCC is studying the possible inclusion of non-Kalinga ethnic groups in the city to the bodong system and wants its non-Kalinga council members to conduct further study on this.


Brothers face raps for mauling farmer
BY ELIZABETH CEDO

TABUK CITY – Two brothers face raps after they mauled a young farmer at Barangay Agbannawag here while one faces additional charges for illegal possession of firearm.

Police said barangay chairman Apolinario Masadao accompanied Charles Amlos y Bucao, 19, single, farmer of Barangay Bangad, Tinglayan, Kalinga in filing a complaint against brothers Nestor and Mike Gannaban, both of Bangad, at present residing at Purok 1, Agbannawag.

Investigation disclosed the victim was on his way to buy barbecue at about 4 p.m. on Dec. 25 when the two brothers suddenly mauled him without any reason. Informed of the incident, police immediately launched a manhunt which led to the arrest of Mike Gannaban.

One Cal. 45 Llama pistol with one magazine and six bullets were confiscated from the suspect who was not able to present supporting documents to possess the firearm. The suspect was found to have a standing warrant for his arrest for murder. He is now detained at Kalinga Provincial Jail while appropriate charges were prepared for filing in court. His brother Nestor has yet to be arrested.

In San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Tuba, Benguet police arrested a certain Joaquin Maoaing Timbong, 45, married, of Banaue, Ifugao and residing at Sitio Palina, Marcos Highway, Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet for acts of lasciviousness around 4 a.m. on Dec. 26, 2007 in coordination with San Jose police.

The suspect was arrested at Sitio Flora, Barangay Kita after a warrant for his arrest was issued by judges Marietta Brawner Cauling of the Sablan, Benguet municipal trial court and Marybelle Demot Marinas of the Benguet regional trial court. Bail bonds of P12,000 and P36,000 respectively were recommended for his temporary liberty.