ONE killed as decades-old Butbut-Betwagan boundary conflict erupts anew

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Following the expiration of their ceasefire agreement, the long-standing conflict between the Butbut tribe of Tinglayan, Kalinga, and the Betwagan tribe of Sadanga, Mountain Province erupted anew, claiming one life during an encounter earlier this week.

Police identified the fatality as a member of the Butbut tribe. The clash reportedly occurred on June 27 at Mt. Tummuwad, one of the areas claimed by both indigenous communities as part of their ancestral territory.

In response to the incident, the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (KPPO) immediately deployed security personnel to the affected area to prevent further violence while peace efforts continue.

The decades-old dispute over ancestral land

The conflict stems from overlapping claims over ancestral lands and water resources, particularly in the Mt. Ikar and Mt. Tummuwad areas, where both tribes assert ancestral ownership based on their respective historical accounts.

Tensions escalated in the early 2000s, resulting in repeated armed confrontations. A 2005 report stated that the conflict had already claimed the lives of 12 tribesmen from both sides.

More recent reports also documented at least one fatality in 2020, while sporadic shootings and armed encounters have continued to disrupt farming activities, trade, and the education of children in the affected communities.

The prolonged conflict also weakened the traditional bodong, or peace pact, which has long served as the customary mechanism for resolving disputes among indigenous communities without bloodshed.

Despite numerous peace negotiations, both tribes have remained firm in their respective territorial claims.

Based on gathered information, Betwagan elders recognize traditional boundary markers established in the mid-1970s, while Butbut leaders uphold a different interpretation of their ancestral boundaries, making a permanent settlement difficult to achieve.

Ceasefire raised hopes but eventually lapsed

In September 2025, elders and leaders from both tribes agreed to a ceasefire while discussions toward a sipat—a traditional agreement that precedes the restoration of a peace pact—continued.

The ceasefire was extended for another two months in December after both sides reaffirmed their commitment to refrain from armed attacks and other acts that could reignite violence.

However, the temporary peace agreement expired in early 2026 without a permanent settlement being reached, leaving the territorial dispute unresolved and tensions simmering until the latest encounter.

During a meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) on June 29, attended by Guru Press Cordillera, provincial officials agreed to elevate the issue to the Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in hopes of securing stronger regional intervention to resolve the inter-provincial conflict.

Police call for reconciliation

Following the incident, KPPO Director PCOL Gilbert Fati-ig appealed to both tribes to allow peace efforts to prevail over armed confrontation.

In a statement, Fati-ig emphasized that while authorities will continue maintaining peace and preventing further violence, lasting stability can only be achieved if both sides continue pursuing dialogue and reconciliation through the indigenous peace process.

"The Kalinga Police Provincial Office respects tribal customs while conducting lawful investigations… Both tribes are strongly urged, through their elders and leaders, to exercise restraint, uphold dialogue, and pursue reconciliation. Armed conflict endangers lives and disrupts peace in the community," Fati-ig said, as quoted by the KPPO.

Province pushes for lasting peace

The Provincial Government of Kalinga, headed by Governor James S. Edduba, continues to work with concerned agencies, security forces, and tribal leaders to achieve lasting peace between the two tribes.

During the June 29 PPOC meeting, Edduba disclosed that the conflict had been endorsed to the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) to seek broader government intervention in resolving the decades-old territorial dispute.

Meanwhile, local government officials, law enforcement agencies, and tribal elders continue to pursue peace dialogues aimed at preventing further bloodshed and allowing residents in the affected communities to safely return to farming, schooling, and their daily lives.

For many families living along the disputed ancestral boundary, the latest loss of life serves as another painful reminder that until a lasting agreement is reached, every renewed outbreak of violence risks claiming more lives and jeopardizing the future of the next generation.