Palace exec proposes solution to Mt Prov, Kalinga tribal war

By Robert James De Roque  

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity urged the local government units of Sadanga, Mountain Province and Tinglayan, Kalinga for sobriety and calmness following the killing of a hunter from Barangay Bekigan, Sadanga recently.
    “The OPAPRU is deeply saddened by the continuing tension between the tribes of Sadanga, Mountain Province and Tinglayan, Kalinga that has unfortunately resulted in the demise of members from both tribes,” said Sec. Isidro L. Purisima, acting presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity.
    Such acts of violence have no place in a humane, democratic and peaceful society. “The impact of these incidents will not only increase violence among members of the feuding tribes, but also in surrounding communities.
    “We commend the efforts of the local government and council of elders in containing the situation and pursuing peaceful means of resolving this long time conflict. And while we have faith in the Cordillera practices and traditions, may we continue to contribute to a lasting peace by honoring the rule of law, and uphold the peace covenant that was signed by the governors of Kalinga and Mountain Province in 2022.
    Isidro said OPAPRU was taking all possible measures and have requested the assistance of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to help prevent the possible escalation of hostilities.
    He proposed a peace agreement which could be undertaken by both parties to prevent such situations of violence from arising, entitled, “An agreement to uphold peace and harmony between the Province of Kalinga and the Province of Mt. Province,” 
    The said peace covenant proposed the “just settlement of inter-boundary disputes by peaceful means through negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to agencies, and other diplomatic approaches which does not endanger national peace and security, and justice.”
     “More importantly, the peace covenant seeks to help create the conditions where genuine peace and sustainable development can be achieved by building a stronger and more meaningful partnership between the two provinces,” he said.
    “We enjoin the elders of the feuding tribes and the governors of the two provinces to come together once again in the name of peace, in hopes of resolving their differences in a manner that will be beneficial for all for the sake of the future of their respective provinces.”
    Hostilities resumed between the tribes men of Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga and Betwagan, Sadanga , Mountain Province resulting to the death of Richard Bannoya Sagwil, 40, while wounded was Edward Chay-as Alunday, 47, both farmers and residents of Bugnay recently.
    The Kalinga Provincial Police Office earlier reported the two were walking down the foot trail at Mt.Kumaykay,Bugnay around 4:30 p.m. when they were shot.
    They were delivering food to their fellow tribesmen at the rice fields in the mountain when suddenly armed men positioned around 500 meters away from the two shot them.
    The shooting lasted for almost an hour.
    The sudden burst of gunfire resulted to the immediate death of Sagwil who was hit on his left eye. Alunday was hit on his abdomen.
    Their fellow tribesmen who came to the rescue had to wait until past 5 p.m. that day to get the two victims.
    The tribesmen retrieved the body of Sagwil while some of them rushed Alunday to the Tinglayan Municipal Health Office.
    The perpetrators allegedly belonged to the Betwagan tribe of Sadanga.
    Betwagan tribe of Sadanga and Butbut tribe of Tinglayan have a decades-old boundary dispute.
    Countless efforts by government officials, police and other stakeholders to restore the peace between the two tribes went futile.