Police take the lead in peace: Butbut, Tulgao officers sign covenant amid tribal rift

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — While their tribes continue working to settle a boundary dispute, police officers from the Butbut and Tulgao tribes are taking the lead in promoting peace, signing a covenant that commits them to understanding, mutual respect, unity, cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution.

The peace covenant was signed by Butbut and Tulgao police personnel assigned to the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (KPPO) on Monday, August 24, at Camp Captain Juan M. Duyan in Bulanao, Tabuk City.

The officers made the commitment as their respective tribes continue efforts to repair relations following the severance of their Bodong in July 2026 over a boundary dispute.

The two tribes met on July 30 at the 503rd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Calanan, Tabuk City, where they agreed to a three-month truce while negotiations toward a more lasting settlement continue.

On August 14, the Butbut and Tulgao tribes also exchanged Sipat tokens, marking another significant step toward restoring their Bodong and rebuilding their relationship.

Amid these continuing efforts, Butbut and Tulgao police officers at the KPPO chose to make their own commitment to peace.

The covenant calls on the officers to uphold non-hostilities, peace, mutual respect, unity, and cooperation, while serving as examples of responsible conflict resolution in their communities.

In his message, Kalinga Police Provincial Director PCol. Gilbert Fati-ig challenged police personnel belonging to the two tribes to take the lead in preventing conflict and promoting reconciliation.

He urged them not to participate in hostilities and instead embody their role as police officers tasked with maintaining peace and order.

“Let us be the ones to start resolving conflicts between our tribes. As police officers, we must not join or aggravate any conflict. Instead, we must be instruments of peace and reconciliation,” Fati-ig said.

The signing demonstrated that the police officers are not only tasked with enforcing the law but can also play a vital role in encouraging their communities to choose dialogue over confrontation.

The peace covenant was witnessed by Engr. Andres Ngao-i, chairperson of the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council; Guyang Ao-as and Vicente Bentican, members of the Kalinga Bodong Council of Elders (KBCE); KPPO officials; and other peace stakeholders.

25 days into the truce, peace efforts continue

The signing came 25 days after the July 30 temporary ceasefire between the Butbut and Tulgao tribes.

The latest developments—from the July 30 truce to the August 14 Sipat exchange and the August 24 police peace covenant—show a continuing series of steps toward restoring relations between the two communities.

While the tribal conflict has yet to be fully resolved and the Bodong has yet to be formally restored, the successive peace initiatives provide a growing framework for dialogue and reconciliation.

For the police officers involved, the message is clear: before asking their communities to choose peace, they are choosing to lead by example.