‘Nu adda nakabasul, itudu da koma… Nu at large ti nakabasul, agsakit nakem ti biktima’: Atty. Dickpus urges stronger Bodong system, power of Bodong holders to prevent tribal conflicts

“Nu agpaysu nga naawatan tayu, nga nairamut kanya tayu ti paniyaw, ngilin ken bain maliklikan tayu dagita maikaniwas nga araramid.” - Atty. Charisma Anne Dickpus

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Strengthening the authority of Bodong holders and ensuring justice against those responsible for offenses are crucial to preventing revenge killings and recurring tribal conflicts in the Cordillera, Atty. Charisma Anne Dickpus said.

Dickpus emphasized the need to empower traditional leaders to ensure that offenders are properly surrendered and held accountable, warning that allowing suspects to remain at large could fuel anger among victims and their families and trigger retaliation.

“Before kuma nga adda dagita, anya dagiti dapat nga aramiden tayu tapno ma prevent. Ti maysa nga nakitak ket ma strengthen kuma ti powers dagituy Bodong holders ta nu adda kuma ti nakabasul itudu da, isuda kuma ti mang surrender ta ajay ngay ti cause iti revenge. Nu makitan dagiti biktima nga at large dagiti nakabasul ket isu jay agsakit nakem da sadan tu bumales,” she said.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera during the First Cordillera United Bodong Holders Conference on November 7, 2026, in Dagupan Weste, Tabuk City, Dickpus also called for a proactive approach to conflict prevention, urging communities and traditional leaders to identify the root causes of disputes before they escalate.

“Iti side ko dituy haan lang kuma nhga maging reactive nu anya man dagidiay mabalin nga maaramid tayo tapno ma prevent dagidiay gapwanan nu apay nga ma violate daydiay Bodong.”

She cited political interests and squatting, among other factors, as possible causes of land disputes in Kalinga, stressing the need to identify the reasons behind disagreements.

“Maysa nga I indetify tayu kuma nu anya gapu na nu apay nga maikikkat dayta land dispute ti Kalinga. So dagita nga land dispute, Politika, squating.”

Dickpus stressed that justice must be served through the proper surrender and arrest of offenders to prevent retaliation. She also clarified that boundary disputes that cannot be resolved through the Bodong system should be referred to appropriate government institutions, including the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the courts.

“Ngem nu adda hustisya, mai surrender, maibalud ket ajay ma prevent iti binnales. Ken daytuy boundary land dispute ti kalinga ket nu haan kuma ma solbra iti bodong, maipan kuma iti proper authority like iti NCIP, proper court.”

She noted that land disputes in Kalinga have persisted for years and called for permanent solutions through final court decisions to prevent the same conflicts from recurring.

“Nabayag dayta issue ti land dispute ti Kalinga ngem adda kuma iti permanent nga solution na nu adda iti permanent decision iti korte bakamidjayen nga masulbar dayts nga issue.”

Furthermore, the former Mayor also mentioned of vote-buying being linked to conflicts as families get divided after politicians but their support. There are also reports on guns allegedly being given by politicians in exchange of votes. And thus, Dickpus reiterated the need to stop vote buying.

Dickpus made the statements during the conference organized by the Cordillera United Bodong Holders (CUBH), which brought together traditional leaders, government agencies, and other stakeholders to strengthen cooperation in resolving disputes through dialogue, reconciliation, and respect for customary laws.

She also urged Kalinga communities to uphold the traditional values of Paniyaw, Ngilin, and Bain, which she described as the foundation of the Bodong system and essential to preserving relationships among individuals and communities.

“Daytuy core values tayu nga Kalinga, daytuy Paniyaw, Ngilin, ken Bain nga ibagbaga da. Maiyadal kuma, maiyaplikar kuma iti biyag tayo ta dayta met ti foundation ti Bodong. Jay met mang preserve iti relationship tayu, iti apo, iti bagi tayu ken iti pada taayu nga tao.”

She added that understanding and living by these values could help prevent actions that violate customary laws and destroy relationships.

“Nu agpaysu nga naawatan tayu, nga nairamut kanya tayu ti paniyaw, ngilin ken bain maliklikan tayu dagita maikaniwas nga araramid,” concluded Dickpus.