Lubuagan devises closure mechanisms of past unsettled conflicts

Lubuagan, Kalinga – The Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) has devised closure mechanism through a special meeting mid-week of January to settle past criminal cases in Lubuagan to sustain peace and order and to avoid recurrence of conflict due to revenge.

“We are actually conducting regular meetings with the MPOC but this time adda iti kuna tayo nga special meeting para kadagiyay nabayagen nga cases between individuals tapnu maayos tayun ken maikkan iti closure dagiti concerned clans and families,” explained Mayor Charisma Anne Dickpus.

The Mayor added that this to be done to put an end to clan conflicts sparing the next generation from troubles they were not part of. Dickpus said if this becomes successful peace and harmony shall prevail for all iLubuagens.

Mechanisms for the settlement of past conflicts

On January 12, the special meeting was held at Lubuagan's Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall discussing cases that involved homicide, family feuds and land disputes within the municipality.

Some of the mechanisms used in the closure of said cases involved traditional practices such as the “pakan,” a practice of offering special token of the wrong doer to the victim’s family or relatives whom he believes to be the avenger of blood.

The acceptance of the token signifies the closure and burying of past conflict in which the God, “kabunian”, shall be witness of the act. In the event that the avenger even after having received the token still carried out his vengeance, the curse of the God “Kabunian” shall be upon him.

“Tapnu laglagipen to a dagiyay dumakkel nga ‘dayta gayam dijay pakan idi tiempo nga na-settle diyay kaso’ tapnu haan da nga panunuten nga adda latta iti busor,” she further explained.

Dickpus informed that members of the MPOC shall be a channel for negotiations in talking to the families involved. She also underscored the importance of these peace meetings even amid the pandemic stating that it is one of the main thrusts under her administration.

“We need to stabilize social order in every community in Lubuagan kasi essential para kadatayo iti kapya ken talna ti pagilyan ta dayta iti number one nga ag-generate ti development. Karkaru ta we are eyeing for more tourism growth and employment opportunities for our constituents,” Mayor Dickpus ended.

According to the MPOC Secretariat Aprilyn Waggawag, the regular meeting of the MPOC is done on the last Wednesday of the third month of every quarter and is jointly convened with the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) to solve drug-related incidents.