Baguio Benguet declared peace zones of Kalinga warring tribes

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — Tribal leaders and peace pact holders of feuding tribes in Kalinga have declared that this mountain resort city and the nearby province of Benguet are considered peace zones because of the expected escalation of violence in urban centers in different parts of the region.

They said the the declaration, local residents should not worry about the emergence of inter-village wars the coming days.

The intervention of tribal leaders and peace pact holders to the predicted conflict in the city and Benguet came after reports had it that some erring tribesmen of Lubo in Tanudan town, and Basao in Tinglayan, Kalinga are allegedly planning to bring their conflicts in other parts of the region.

According to the designated peace pact holders, the declaration of this city and Benguet as peace zones so that members of conflicting tribes living outside Kalinga will not be unduly interrupted or disturbed in their works, studies, and businesses since tribal wars are considered as counterproductive to the success of a certain individual.

As this developed, local peace pact holders appealed to their fellow tribesmen in Kalinga to confine their problems in their own respective areas of jurisdiction so that peaceful lives of their fellow tribesmen living outside the province will not be disturbed and interrupted.

During tribal wars, members of conflicting tribes who are living outside the province are required to go home to their respective places and contribute in defending their fellow tribesmen from being hurt by rival tribes.

The past years, some feuding tribes in Kalinga have stopped being involved in conflicts and bloodshed was prevented.

Members of the warring tribes were thus able to be involved in productive activities that helped improve their living conditions.