2 tribes fail to settle feud over judge’s slay

By Dexter. A See

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Efforts to put an end to a brewing feud between Kalinga and Mountain Province tribes over the murder of Judge Milner Lammawin suffered a setback when the contending parties failed to agree on how the case would be peacefully settled.

Lammawin was allegedly killed by members of the Maducayan tribe in Tabuk City, Kalinga several months after a certain Edwin Lingbawan, a Maducayan native, was shot to death while on his way to Tabuk from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

It was alleged that one of the persons on board the vehicle used by the killers of Lingbawan was Tabuk Mayor Camilo Lammawin, brother of the slain judge.

Judge Lammawin’s wife, Venus, is a member of the Bontoc tribe, which is trying to intervene in the conflict to avert further bloodshed.

During a recent meeting facilitated by Bontoc tribal elders here, relatives of Venus Lammawin rejected a suggestion of lawyer Basilio Wandag, a member of the Maducayan tribe, that the problem be settled through the so-called “pakpakan,” a manner by which conflicts are settled by family members.

It was also suggested that no damage would be demanded by an aggrieved party, except for a token voluntarily offered by the offender.

Compared to the “bodong system,” this new mode of settlement does not go through the rituals and calls only for a mere exchange of food.

Partaking of the food offered by the offender implies forgiveness on the part of the aggrieved party, thereby putting a close to the conflict.

In refusing the offer, relatives of Venus said they will still have to cling to the procedures observed in the bodong, the only acceptable means of settling the conflict between the two tribes.

Another snag was the insistence of Venus that the culprits voluntarily present themselves.

She said they could not talk of forgiveness if no one of the suspects appears before them and ask forgiveness for it.

However, Wandag said, the presence in the meeting of the relatives of the culprits was sufficient proof of their intention to settle the case, but relatives of the judge’s wife refused to accept the argument.

The lawyer informed the Bontoc tribal elders that he will present the request of the aggrieved party to present the culprits to his tribe.

Both the elders of the tribes agreed to keep the communication lines open and refrain from doing things that would worsen the already strained ties.

If the issue is not settled, a war between the two tribes might erupt. This might result in loss of lives and damage to properties.

People not involved in the conflict might also be harmed in the crossfire.