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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