Kalinga, Mountain Province warring tribes forge ceasefire

By Peter A. Balocnit

SADANGA, Mountain Province – Two warring tribes of Kalinga and Mountain Province agreed to a ceasefire after Cordillera police director Brig. Gen.  R’win Pagkalinawan called for cessation in armed hostilities.
    The Butbut tribe of Tinglayan, Kalinga and Betwagan of Sadanga, Mountain Province also agreed to discuss their border dispute peacefully in the near future and forge a “sipat” or peace pact.
    Pagkalinawan made the appeal for a “sipat” in a dialogue Jan. 8 at the border of Tinglayan and Sadanga. with leaders of the two tribes after the shooting incident wherein a 68-year-old Betwagan farmer was shot in the left thumb in Sitio Bobong, Betwangan last Jan. 3.
    The farmer was on his way to bring food to tribesmen guarding their tribe’s boundary when he was fired upon by still unidentified assailants.
    The Bauko Municipal Police Station reported the victim sought medical assistance at the Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital in Abatan, Bauko, Mt.Province.
    Pagkalinawan said during the dialogue, both tribes, represented by chairpersons of Betwagan and Bugnay and tribal elders, aired their sentiments on issues regarding their boundary dispute. 
    Pagkalinawan urged them to resolve their dispute through traditional means, like agreeing on a “sipat, (peace agreement)” or exchange of tokens.
    He said the police will have to do their job and gather pieces of evidence for filing of cases should the tribes engage in hostilities.   
    Sadanga Mayor Gabino Ganggangan, who attended the dialogue, said both tribes needed to agree to a ‘sipat” to advance peace dialogues.
    After more than three hours, tribal representatives agreed to a stop of armed hostilities, and drafted rules on the ceasefire. 
    In a meeting among parties  at the Kalinga-Mt. Province boundary in Mamaga on Jan. 8, speakers said their goal was to restore peace to save lives, avoid destruction of properties, preserve animals raised in the disputed area and continue economic activities without fear. 
    Ganggangan suggested enforcement of past agreements, mechanisms on how to enforce conditions of the ceasefire and agreement on enforceable provisions.
    “There has to be a “sipat” in order to account responsibility and to have confidence in furtherance of peace dialogues,” he said.
    “Sipat” is an exchange of peace tokens after naming interim peace pact holders.
    It will serve as a bridge mechanism to pursue peace initiatives and the holders as overseers of continuing dialogue.
     William Abay of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) suggested indigenous peoples mandatory representatives of concerned barangays be named “sipat” holders. 
    Bugnay barangay IPMR of Bugnay accepted the assignment but Betwagan withheld acceptance pending presentation of the proposal before the tribe.   
    The dialogue was also attended by representatives from the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Public Works and Highways and the Philippine Information Agency, neutral tribes, local government units, provincial police offices and 503rd Infantry Brigade and 50th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. – PIA Kalinga