Tabuk City, Kalinga — The Butbut and Tulgao tribes formally agreed to a ceasefire during a peace dialogue held at the Headquarters of the 503rd Infantry Brigade in Calanan, Tabuk City, on Thursday, July 30.
The agreement formalizes a temporary truce between the two conflicting tribes while they, together with neutral peace mediators, work toward achieving a lasting and permanent peace settlement.
The peace dialogue was presided over by Engr. Andres Ngao-i, with Tinglayan Municipal Administrator Atty. Mark Dave Bang-as and Vice Mayor Alexander Malasi.
Governor James S. Edduba personally attended the dialogue to demonstrate the Provincial Government's commitment and support for the establishment of lasting peace between the two tribes.
Also present were representatives from the Municipal Government of Tinglayan, Provincial Government of Kalinga, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other stakeholders, who reaffirmed their commitment to support ongoing peacebuilding efforts in the municipality.
Long-standing boundary dispute
The conflict between the Butbut and Tulgao tribes centers on overlapping claims over portions of their ancestral boundary. While both sides have differing accounts of recent events, the latest confrontation occurred in a contested area where members of the two tribes encountered each other, resulting in an exchange of gunfire. Both tribes have since expressed their willingness to resolve the dispute through traditional peace mechanisms, with tribal elders and neutral mediators playing a central role in the process.
Timeline of recent events
Past mid July 2026 (exact date not mentioned) – Tensions escalated after an armed confrontation occurred in a disputed boundary area between the Butbut and Tulgao tribes. Both sides later issued separate statements on social media presenting different versions of how the incident began.
July 26 – Tribal elders and members from both Butbut and Tulgao publicly appealed for an immediate return to non-hostilities, urging respect for the bodong (peace pact) process and calling for an impartial investigation by elders and authorities instead of online accusations.
July 27 – Governor James S. Edduba appealed to both tribes to choose peace over war, urging them not to allow anger and emotions to lead to further bloodshed. He called on both parties to exercise restraint, respect the peace process, and work together toward a peaceful resolution of the boundary conflict.
July 30 – Representatives of the two tribes, together with local officials, security forces, and peace mediators, convened at the 503rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Tabuk City, where they formally agreed to a ceasefire while negotiations for a lasting settlement continue.
The ceasefire is expected to prevent further violence and provide both tribes with the opportunity to resolve the boundary dispute through dialogue, customary conflict-resolution mechanisms, and the bodong peace process rather than armed confrontation.
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