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Bugnay, Tinglayan clarifies story on dismantling of military encampment within disputed boundary

Writer's picture: Christian MalnawaChristian Malnawa

Updated: Feb 27, 2021


Tabuk City, Kalinga – The dismantling of the then-military encampment which was later used as civilian post by the Butbut tribe of Barangay Bugnay in the disputed area of Betwagan and Butbut was concluded on February 23, 2021, but issues the process leading to the dismantling was raised.


BLGU Bugnay said the operation carried out by the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) and Special Action Force (SAF) was an uncoordinated one, adding that they should have negotiated with them through a Memorandum of Agreement before the demolition.

In a statement by Robert Dumpao, Barangay Captain of Bugnay, he narrated that on February 23, 2021, the Butbut tribe was still discussing with the Tinglayan MPS team regarding a Memorandum of Agreement affirming the safety of the community of Bugnay when the RMFB and SAF team started burning the area.


“Kuna mi garud nu kasta garud (nga idismantle jay post) agaramid tayu ti MOA, in case nga adda maaramid nga nu umattack ti taga Betwagan , resposibilidad yu nga PNP ah diyay ta ti adda ti MOA ket diyay garud… ket awan pay ti MOA ta madama pay ti tungtungan ket inproceed da latta nga pinuuran amin nga kwa, adu pay ti nairaman nga private log, tab-tabla,” Dumpao said.


“Gapu ta ipapilit da garud nga ipaikkat ti civilian posts ket kunami mi ah nga anya ngay met ti rason nga apay nga ikkaten yu, nu maikkat ti civilian post, kasla ibagbaga yu nga ipalubus mi nga paltugan ti banger ti community ngem ti sungbat da lang ket isu kanu gamin ti order,” he added.

Reasons behind turning the Encampment Area as a ‘Civilian Post’


According to the Butbut tribe, they made use of the encampment area as a ‘civilian post’ to make sure of the safety of the Community of Bugnay.


They further said the unit of AFP deployed in the area serving as peace-keeping force was pulled out on January 1, 2021 for unknown reasons which urged them to stay at the military encampment.


“Dati-dati gamin ket adda dagiti peace-keeping force nga army nga ngem immikkat da idi January 1, 2021 nga anya man ti rasun nu apay napull-out da, tattan kapilitan nga apan ti civilian idiay ta nu awan ti agbantay siguradu nga tambangen da dagidiay barangay mi, tambangen ti Betwagan,” they said.

Unmet conditions before demolition


The group, if were given the chance to forge a MOA with PNP Regional Director R’win Pagkalinawan before proceeding with the demolition, said they would have asked for the following conditions:


· Pagkalinawan should guarantee that the Betwagan tribe will not attack and snipe the community.


· In case the Betwagan tribe attack or snipe the community of Bugnay, the Regional Director of the PNP Cordillera by virtue of the MOA is giving his consent and is willing to face any administrative or criminal charge filed against him before any tribunal body or court of competent jurisdiction relative to this matter, and


· As a common procedure and in the light of the principle of Chain of Command, Pagkalinawan will take the responsibility in case there would be untoward incident that would happen in the absence of the peace-keeping force at the disputed area.

As told by the group during an interview, they would have agreed with the dismantling operation provided that the Regional Director agreed with the conditions they had set.


“Ibaga mi idiay MOA nga willing kami nga madismantle, tumulung pay ti barangay official ngem daytuy ngarud ti process na nga pirmaan pailang ni RD daytuy tapnu nasayaat, peaceful ta apan kuma pay tumulung ti community nga mangdismantle ngem ti inaramid na apan dan nga pinuuran nga han da pay nalpas ti tungtungan ken haan met nga necessary nga intaremente da nga puuran,” they said.


Because of this, the BLGU is thinking of its next move about the irregularity in the dismantling process.

History of the Butbut-Betwagan boundary dispute


The long-standing boundary dispute between the two tribes started in 2001 was solved through a peace pact in 2007, but again a disagreement between them arose in 2019.


In February 2020, a shooting incident transpired which totally broke the peace pact agreement. Several peace dialogues were then initiated by Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCOR) to solve the conflict.


More peace dialogues are expected to be conducted until the dispute is settled.


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