‘I am very much willing to represent Butbut tribe’: BM Dangani ready to join peace talks in Tinglayan

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Board Member Alfredo K. Dangani has expressed readiness to represent the Butbut tribe in formal peace discussions, drawing on his experience in resolving tribal conflicts during his tenure as provincial director of the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (KPPO).

Dangani’s participation was proposed by the provincial government as part of efforts to resolve the longstanding conflict between the Butbut and Tulgao tribes in Tinglayan. Board Member Julius “Glenn” Amla was also tapped to help bring the Butbut community’s concerns to provincial peace and order discussions.

“I am very much willing to represent Butbut in a proper forum,” Dangani told Guru Press Cordillera on Tuesday, October 27.

However, he said he had been waiting for coordination since September, explaining that he could not initiate action without proper authorization because he now serves in the legislative branch rather than the police service.

“Ururayek lang ti tawag or coordination since September kasi haan tayo met mabalin aggaraw nu awan ti pahintulot, especially we are in legislative now and haan tayon nga police,” Dangani said.

His ancestral ties to the Butbut community were also cited as an advantage in strengthening communication between the tribe and the provincial government.

Before entering politics, Dangani served as KPPO director from 2017 to 2018. During his time in the police service, he helped facilitate the resolution of two tribal conflicts in Kalinga: the boundary dispute between the Tulgao and Tinglayan tribes in Tinglayan, and the conflict between the Gaang and Dacalan tribes in Tanudan.

Both disputes reached peace agreements in 2017 through the exchange of sipats, traditional tokens symbolizing peace and reconciliation.

Dangani said his previous experience could help advance the current peace efforts, but stressed that lasting peace would depend on the willingness of both the Butbut and Tulgao communities to cooperate and respect one another.

He emphasized that the two tribes must treat each other as equals and work together to settle their longstanding dispute.

The provincial government continues to pursue dialogue and other peace initiatives to prevent further hostilities and achieve a lasting resolution to the conflict in Tinglayan.