THE decades-old tribal conflict between the Butbut and Betwagan tribes of Kalinga Province can only be resolved between the two tribes.
Brigadier General R'win Pagkalinawan, Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-COR) regional director, earlier tried to intercede and to establish closure on the boundary dispute but said the resolution depends on both tribes.
"In our recent visit to the Province of Kalinga to help resolve the land dispute between the Butbut and Betwagan tribes, what was evident is that neither of them would give in to an equitable resolution that would benefit them. It is our position in the Philippine National Police (PNP) particularly PRO-COR based on the results of our meeting with the leaders of both tribes to let them resolved their disputes as they showed no signs of favoring government initiated peace agreement," Pagkalinawan said.
The Bugnay people wanted to set a new boundary, particularly the ridge of the mountain and all areas overlooking the road and Chico River to be included in the Bugnay territory.
The Betwagan tribe, however, wants to maintain the Macli-ing boundary -- a common boundary established during the transfer of the old peace pact to Macli-ing Dulag in the mid 70's. The Betwagan elders presented their historical basis for their claims.
Butbut leaders especially those from Bugnay however deny there was such a talk of boundary during the transfer of the peace pact to Macli-ing.
The Butbut tribe further claims there was never any common boundary set in the past. A claim that belies the fact that territorial boundary is an inseparable component of a "Bodong" or peace pact.
"Although we will leave the decision to resolve the land dispute between the two tribes, PRO-COR and the Armed Forces of the Philippines assures that we will still be present to ensure that violence between them maybe prevented, aside from innocent civilians to be involved in future violent disputes between the Butbut and Betwagan tribes," Pagkalinawan added.