Warring Kalinga tribes told: Respect peace zones

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan here urged warring clans and tribes from Kalinga to respect the earlier declaration that this mountain resort city and nearby Benguet province are peace zones, thus, their hostilities must not be brought in the city.

This, after information reached the mayor that some disgruntled Kalinga clans have already sent their alleged death squads to the city and Benguet to avenge the murder of their relatives perpetrated by rival clans and tribes.

According to him, the culture of revenge which is being practiced by most Kalinga tribes is a hindrance to development, especially in the province which was identified as a resource-rich place, thus, present and future generations of Kalinga people must abandon such culture because it has depicted a bad image for the province the past decades.

Domogan called on members of feuding tribes to spare Baguio and Benguet from their hostilities because their elders and city and provincial officials in the late 1990s have declared Baguio and Benguet as peace zones to prevent the escalation of violence in the said places.

During tribal wars, members of warring tribes avenge the loss of their tribesmen by killing any member of their rival tribe in any place.

Further, members of the feuding tribes who are working or studying in various places are obliged to go home to their respective hometowns and defend their places from being attacked by their rivals.

Because of the practice of tribal war in most parts of Kalinga and some parts of Mountain province, prospective investors in the said areas have abandoned their plans of engaging business in potential economic hubs that could guarantee job opportunities and sources of livelihood for the people.

If the feuding Kalinga tribe members are in Baguio and Benguet, the mayor reminded them they were governed by existing peace zone and declaration as well as national and local laws, thus, they will be arrested by law enforcers once they are found laws.

Domogan directed city police to closely monitor activities of those who were allegedly fielded by feuding Kalinga tribes in the city who were tasked to avenge the death of their fellow tribesmen so that they could be apprehended and charged.

Meanwhile, natives of Kalinga now residing in Baguio and Benguet appealed to their warring provincemates to spare the city and Benguet from their hostilities so law and order will prevail. -- Dexter A. See