INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S WATCH
For Lubuagan and Guinaang tribes:
Baguio Now a ‘No-War’ Zone
The Lubuagan and the
Guinaang tribes are currently at war due to the killing of a youth leader
late last year. While the war still persists, a new peace pact prevents
them from taking the war in Baguio City where some of their tribespeople
live.
BY LYN V. RAMO and
MARLON GOMARCHO
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
BAGUIO CITY — A new
generation of tribal peace pact holders is now faced with the challenge to
maintain harmony (talna) and peace (kappia) among Kalinga
tribes. Their venue is not the hinterlands of Kalinga but Baguio
City, a six-hour bus ride from
Manila.
Over 300 indigenous
peoples belonging to Lubuagan and Guinaang tribes of Kalinga gathered here
last Jan. 16 to witness the forging of a peace pact (bodong). The
latter was an agreement between the tribes not to engage in their tribal
war when in Baguio
City.
The Lubuagan and the
Guinaang tribes are currently at war due to the killing of Pasil
Sangguniang Kabataan chair Danreeve Malaggay on Nov. 9, 2004
in Bulanao, Tabuk.
Unlike in the past
when tribal conflict used to be a result of the defense of tribal
territory, politics takes center stage now in the breaking of peace
accords as illustrated by the Lubuagan-Guinaang bodong.
Malaggay was a half-Balinsiagao
and half-Guinaang tribe member of Pasil, Kalinga. His father came from
Balinsiagao tribe while his mother from the Guinaang tribe. The killing
of Malaggay last year resulted in the collapse of a peace pact between the
two tribes.
Investigations into
Malaggay’s untimely death showed that it was rooted in politics marred by
vote-buying and fraud at the local level. A member of the Lubuagan tribe
lost in the selection of a youth representative to the provincial board
and this reportedly led to Malaggay’s murder.
Traditionally, the
Guinaang tribe to which Malaggay belonged is expected to avenge his death
if the bodong holder of the perpetrator's tribe failed to deliver
justice by actively mediating for the settlement of the conflict. In the
earlier days the peace pact holder has the right to kill the member of his
tribe who committed the violation, a social investigator explains.
Because of this, the
Baguio-based Kalinga Bodong Convenors’ Group initiated an emergency
meeting on Nov. 22 and suggested that tokens (allasiw) from each
tribe be offered to come up with a truce (sipat). An allasiw
is composed of any token which includes sum of money and a bolo (buneng)
from each of the two representatives of the tribes involved symbolizing
peace offerings.
The Lubuagan tribe,
mainly students and elders, hosted the peace pact celebration last January
16 in Km 5, Asin Road here. Mario Gawon, now the peace pact holder of the
Lubuagan tribe, together with his tribesmen first offered a celebration
to the Guinaang tribe led by Benny Lingbawan, peace-pact holder for
the Guinaang tribe.
Lingbawan estimated
the population of both tribes in Baguio and Benguet to be more than 200
each. However, this number does not include children.
Rules of the Pact
The Nov. 22 talks
resulted in initial agreements among some 20 tribal leaders. Such
agreements include the prevention of vengeance (bales) from the
afflicted tribe. Lingbawan said that while the tribesmen are outside
Kalinga, there should be no tribal war in these areas.
Visiting kin from the
province now get advised and warned of the terms of the sipat.
The Jan. 16 bodong
ratified the agreements of the Nov. 22 emergency leaders' meeting. The
bodong shall protect members of each tribe while they are in Baguio
City and Benguet. Until they have
reached Kalinga, conflict resolution is left for elders to settle.
“Ti bodong ket
mabiagan wenno mataguan koma ti umili, tapno adda ti ikasta a mangrisut ti
basol ti maysa a tao” (The peace pact should allow people to live, so
that there is a chance to resolve the misgivings of one person), Lingbawan
emphasizes.
Lingbawan is
optimistic that the bodong will bring about peace and order even
for a while. “Karkaro ta makitegtegged ti kaaduan nga aggapo iti clans
ti peace pact holders.” (Especially that most tribe members from the
clan of the peace pact holders are eking out a living.) The student sector
also makes up a big portion of the tribes in the city.
Lingbawan, however,
does not underestimate the presence of conflict, especially now that
tribal laws usually contradict with existing state laws. Northern
Dispatch / Bulatlat
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