Biga and Basao PNP personnel sign peace covenant amidst tribal conflict

Tabuk City, Kalinga – While they belong to the warring groups, police officers under the Biga and Basao tribes signed peace covenant and committed to help restore peace between the two tribes.

The hostility between Biga and Basao began in July this year and has taken two lives in the past three months. Cases were already filed against the identified perpetrators.

To uphold their role as peace makers amidst the ongoing tribal conflict, the Kalinga Police Provincial Office headed by PCol. Gilbert Fati-ig gathered all personnel belonging to the Biga and Basao tribes on Monday, October 28 at the Camp Capt. Juan M Duyan.

PNP Kalinga Spokesperson, PCapt. Ruff Manganip told GURU Press Cordillera that these personnel signed a peace covenant, making a commitment not to take part in any kind of violence against each other.

“Iti purpose na daytoy tapnu agkaroon iti peace covenant between personnel[Biga and Basao] nga haan da nga mairamraman ditoy nga tribal war nu di ket isu da iti facilitators wennu mangtulong kadagitoy both tribes tapnu agkaroon  iti peace,” he explained.

He added that they want to show that the PNP Kalinga personnel even when they belong to the "in-conflict" tribes will remain neutral and make means to help restore amity. 

“Ipakita mi nga the PNP, nu regarding iti Bodong ta adda met iti Pagta iti Bodong, ket haan nga dapat nga sumalsali da iti regarding iti tribal war nu di ket isu da iti adda iti tingnga nga mang kwa kuma tapnup haan nga lumala daytoy tribal war,” he explained. 

The signing of covenant was witnessed by Governor James Edduba, Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Kalinga Bodong Council of Elders, the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council, and the barangay officials and elders of Biga and Basao.

Governor Edubba and PCol. Fati-ig, meantime, appealed to the elders who attended the event to work together in fixing the severed relationship of Biga and Basao.