That's the question in the midst of efforts of the peace arm of Tabuk City to ratify policies that conflict with the practices of remaining warlike tribes here.
The Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council (MBCC), this city's version of the peace and order council, is currently holding an information drive among ethnic communities in the city on policies passed by the council which include the "no gopas" policy banning the severance of a bodong or peace pact and the mandate on tribes not to coddle members who commit crimes.
Community Affairs Officer Alexander Gunaban said that after the explanation of the policies to the tribes, the tribal leaders or papangats and the barangay officials will be made to sign the document as a manifestation of their approval and commitment to comply and likewise help implement the policies.
"Their signature means they agree with the policies and will stand for them. If they would later violate the policies, we will remind them that they have signed the document”, Gunaban said.
Gunaban said only members of the MBCC have signed the policies during their passage in 2006 and their amendment in 2007.
Gunaban admits the "no gopas" policy which in effect outlaws tribal wars may meet strong resistance considering that there are still tribes specially in Upper Kalinga who are warlike but at the same time, he expressed the optimism that the time has come for cultural change.
"Even tribes in Lower Kalinga who are now referred to as Lipa (hen) used to relish killing but when they saw that the act is against the laws of God and of the government, they stopped. It may take a long time yet for the kawitan (rooster) tribes to do away with violence but if we start now, we might yet succeed," Gunaban said.
Gunaban reiterated that there is no logic in severing the bodong the moment the tribes cannot come to terms over a case because the bodong is supposed to be a bridge for peace between tribes.
He claimed that the "no gopas" policy makes the bodong consistent with national law.
Gunaban also pointed out that the conversion of Tabuk into a city is an added impetus for cultural change. The policies have already been ratified by six of the eight original Kalinga tribes inhabiting Tabuk and that after the eight tribes, they will go to the Kalinga tribes hailing from other municipalities and also the immigrant groups.
CAO Heriberto Barila who is part of the team conducting the information and ratification campaign alleged that some members of the warlike tribes he has talked to have expressed willingness to embrace the MBCC policies because they realize the high price of tribal vendetta.
"One of those I talked to pointed out that when the bodong is severed, the students and the sick who are in the matagoan have to be evacuated. Another said that they just came to live in Tabuk and they therefore should follow the laws of the original inhabitants of the place," Barila said.
Under the MBCC policies, the matagoan or peace zone of the city where the policies apply are the seven barangays in the center of the city which are not covered by a bodong, namely: Bulanao, Bulana Norte, San Juan, Appas, Magsaysay, Dagupan Centro and Dagupan Weste.
Asked what happens in case some tribal leaders and barangay officials refuse to sign the document, Gunaban said they will ask why and then solicit their "suggestions on how to safeguard the matagoan." **By Estanislao Albano, Jr.
The Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council (MBCC), this city's version of the peace and order council, is currently holding an information drive among ethnic communities in the city on policies passed by the council which include the "no gopas" policy banning the severance of a bodong or peace pact and the mandate on tribes not to coddle members who commit crimes.
Community Affairs Officer Alexander Gunaban said that after the explanation of the policies to the tribes, the tribal leaders or papangats and the barangay officials will be made to sign the document as a manifestation of their approval and commitment to comply and likewise help implement the policies.
"Their signature means they agree with the policies and will stand for them. If they would later violate the policies, we will remind them that they have signed the document”, Gunaban said.
Gunaban said only members of the MBCC have signed the policies during their passage in 2006 and their amendment in 2007.
Gunaban admits the "no gopas" policy which in effect outlaws tribal wars may meet strong resistance considering that there are still tribes specially in Upper Kalinga who are warlike but at the same time, he expressed the optimism that the time has come for cultural change.
"Even tribes in Lower Kalinga who are now referred to as Lipa (hen) used to relish killing but when they saw that the act is against the laws of God and of the government, they stopped. It may take a long time yet for the kawitan (rooster) tribes to do away with violence but if we start now, we might yet succeed," Gunaban said.
Gunaban reiterated that there is no logic in severing the bodong the moment the tribes cannot come to terms over a case because the bodong is supposed to be a bridge for peace between tribes.
He claimed that the "no gopas" policy makes the bodong consistent with national law.
Gunaban also pointed out that the conversion of Tabuk into a city is an added impetus for cultural change. The policies have already been ratified by six of the eight original Kalinga tribes inhabiting Tabuk and that after the eight tribes, they will go to the Kalinga tribes hailing from other municipalities and also the immigrant groups.
CAO Heriberto Barila who is part of the team conducting the information and ratification campaign alleged that some members of the warlike tribes he has talked to have expressed willingness to embrace the MBCC policies because they realize the high price of tribal vendetta.
"One of those I talked to pointed out that when the bodong is severed, the students and the sick who are in the matagoan have to be evacuated. Another said that they just came to live in Tabuk and they therefore should follow the laws of the original inhabitants of the place," Barila said.
Under the MBCC policies, the matagoan or peace zone of the city where the policies apply are the seven barangays in the center of the city which are not covered by a bodong, namely: Bulanao, Bulana Norte, San Juan, Appas, Magsaysay, Dagupan Centro and Dagupan Weste.
Asked what happens in case some tribal leaders and barangay officials refuse to sign the document, Gunaban said they will ask why and then solicit their "suggestions on how to safeguard the matagoan." **By Estanislao Albano, Jr.
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