TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The long standing conflict between two sub-tribes in the province reached a peaceful resolution following the recent exchange of traditional symbols of peace leading to the forging of a peace pact through the age-old ‘bodong’ system.
Mayor Darwin C. Estran֮ero personally witnessed and facilitate the conduct of the ‘sipat’ or the initial exchange of peace tokens between elders of the Biga and Basao sub-tribes that ended the long standing conflict between the said groups which earlier raised concern on the stability of law and order in the city.
The ceremony started when elders of the Basao tribe, including Mangaip Calsiyao, father of a shooting victim, accepted the ‘sipat,’ a bolo, that was offered by the elders of the Biga tribe led by Ignacio Baglingit.
Further, the mayor and the elders from both tribes moved to sitio Basao in barangay Dilag where Calsiyao officially received the peace token.
On the other hand, Calsiyao then presented the so-called ‘allasiw,’ another bolo, to Baglingit that affirmed the Basao tribe’s acceptance of the initial step towards renewed peace between the feuding tribes.
The exchange of the ‘sipat’ and allasiw’ laid the foundation for both sub-tribes to re-build their ‘bodong’ or peace pact and restore harmonious relationship between the members of the two tribes.
Earlier, Estran֮ero persisted to convince elders of both tribes to restore their severed relationship through the traditional ‘bodong’ system when he worked hard to engage both tribes to bring back their mutual understanding for the sake of the overall safety of the people in the city.
Also present during the symbolic ‘sipat’ ceremony were members of the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council (MBCC) led by chairman Engr. Andres Ngao-I, who also played a key role in facilitating the successful negotiations between the tribal leaders that led to the achievement of the exchange of peace tokens.
‘Papangats’ or elders from both sub-tribes also witnessed the exchange of peace tokens that illustrate a deep cultural reverence for the time-honored peace building that had been passed on to generations of Kalinga indigenous peoples.
Mayor Estran֮ero pointed out that the restoration of the peace pact between the Basao and Biga tribes serves as a testament to the power of indigenous knowledge and practices in resolving conflicts between the indigenous peoples.
“We commend the elders for considering the greater welfare of our people in deciding to restore harmony between the two tribes. We also give credit to the relatives of the victim for their understanding of the benefits of lasting peace in our city” Mayor Estran֮ero stressed.
The conflict between the two tribes started when members of both tribes were alleged victims of shooting incidents that transpired in the city over the past several months.
The mayor is the first local chief executive of the local government that adopted a hands-on policy in handling such tribal disputes to ensure their timely resolution that will sustain the city’s law and order that will contribute in spurring growth and development. By Dexter See and Jessie Maguiya
