Kalinga tribes declare peace zone amid boundary dispute

BENGUET, Philippines — Kalinga tribes caught in a boundary dispute in Tingalayan town, have declared a “matagoan zone” (zone of peace) to keep the conflict from spilling into other areas.

 

A covenant was signed between Tulgao and Tongrayan tribes at the Kalinga provincial capitol on Wednesday declaring the provincial capital Tabuk City a peace zone.

 

Several years ago, the Kalinga Bodong Council composed of tribal leaders in Kalinga declared Tabuk City, Rizal and the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela as peace zones.

 

According to the Wednesday agreement, the conflict between the two tribes will be confined to hinterland areas.

 

The agreement was signed in Tabuk City, where Philippine Army officials, police officials, Tabuk City local government officials, religious leaders, city school administrators and members of the neutral tribes acted as witnesses.

 

With the peace zone agreement, students and employees from the tribes can go back to school and work without worrying about their safety.

 

Police on Wednesday ordered students from the Tinglayan and Tulgao tribes to go home for their own safety after a 27-year-old Tingayan tribesman was shot in the head in his hometown on Tuesday afternoon.

 

The move was meant to prevent more violence between the two fierce tribes.

 

Policemen assisted students from the Tinglayan tribe in Barangay Basao to Poblacion, both areas are in Tinglayan. Students and members of both tribes were also advised to stay at home as much as possible to avoid any provocation. 

 

On Tuesday night, two teams from the Tinglayan police and Kalinga provincial public safety company and two teams from the Philippine Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion were posted at the disputed area while another Army platoon proceeded to Tulgao proper.

  

Farmer Art Truth Ewad from the Tinglayan tribe and a resident of Ambato, Legleg, Poblacion, Tinglayan was shot in the head by a still unidentified assailant in Poblacion on Tuesday afternoon.

 

Ewad was brought to the Tinglayan rural health unit then rushed to the Bontoc General Hospital in Mt. Province for further treatment.