BAGUIO CITY — Local residents and netizens are pushing back at top government officials following claims that fugitive former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag is being shielded by tribes in Kalinga.

Ed Comafay, a vocal Kalinga resident, issued a blistering statement on social media directed at Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and BuCor Chief Gregorio Catapang Jr., accusing them of using the province as a scapegoat for their failure to apprehend the high-profile fugitive.

Comafay criticized the officials for what he described as "pure ignorance" regarding the cultural geography of the Cordillera Administrative Region. He pointed out that Bantag does not belong to any Kalinga tribe, nor is his ancestral domain located within the province.

"First of all, Bantag's tribe is not from Kalinga. Remulla and Catapang are just flaunting their ignorance," he stressed.

"They don't seem to know that there are many tribes in the Cordillera, each with its own distinct ancestral domain," Comafay added. He suggested that the officials should utilize their intelligence funds for actual research rather than making "unfounded" claims.

The controversy stems from statements suggesting that a "violent confrontation" might occur if authorities attempt to arrest Bantag in Kalinga due to tribal protection. Comafay argued that this narrative paints a dangerous and unfair picture of the Kalinga people.

"They want to make it appear that people in Kalinga are violent," Comafay said. "They should realize that these statements damage our image. Tourists and investors might become afraid to come here because of these lies."

Other members of Kalinga sub-tribes echoed Comafay’s sentiments, taking to social media to demand respect from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and BuCor.

A joint statement from concerned citizens in the province urged Secretary Remulla and General Catapang to refrain from publishing "damaging statements" that put the citizenry in danger.

The group emphasized that Bantag is not a member of any subtribe of Kalinga. "The published statements blemish the Kalinga people to the fullest level. Please respect us," they said.