‘I got their commitment. Butbut tribe will not engage in further hostile action’- Lt. Col. Obias on hopes for renewed peace talks

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The Butbut tribe has committed to refrain from further hostilities against the Tulgao tribe, raising hopes for renewed peace efforts in Tinglayan, according to 103rd Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Jimrhic B. Obias.

Obias reported the commitment during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting on October 26 at the Provincial Capitol, following the military’s weekend visit to the Butbut and Tulgao communities.

He said the visit aimed to assure both tribes of the military’s commitment to helping resolve their long-standing ancestral boundary dispute.

“We all went to the Butbut and Tulgao, doon kami nagweekend, to convey to both communities how serious the battalion is in helping our communities engage in this conflict…. I was able to get the commitment of the Butbut tribe that they will not engage in further hostile action against the other tribe. So yun ang pinakamagandang nangyari during that day,” Obias told the council.

The two tribes have been involved in an ancestral boundary dispute that has resulted in deadly clashes.

They entered into a ceasefire on July 30, 2026, but hostilities resumed in September, resulting in the deaths of three tribesmen, Obias reported.

The conflict has also disrupted residents’ daily lives, including students whose schooling has been affected by security concerns and families struggling to carry out their livelihood activities in conflict-affected areas.

Meanwhile, Tulgao West Punong Barangay Ruben T. Ganagan expressed openness to holding a sipat in November as a possible next step toward restoring peaceful relations between the two tribes.

“Welcome ti sipat nu November siguro ta madama ti ritual,” Ganagan said during the PPOC meeting.

A sipat is a traditional peace process used by Kalinga tribes to help settle disputes and restore harmonious relations.

The Butbut tribe’s commitment and the Tulgao community’s openness to a possible sipat provide an opportunity for both sides to pursue dialogue and prevent further violence.

However, sustained cooperation between the two tribes, community leaders and government agencies will be crucial to maintaining the ceasefire and achieving lasting peace in Tinglayan.