BAGUIO CITY — The Movement for the Advancement of Inter-Tribal Unity and Development (MAITUD) has called for an immediate end to the tribal conflict between the Betwagan tribe of Sadanga, Mountain Province, and the Butbut tribe of Tinglayan, Kalinga, urging both sides to pursue dialogue and allow peace to prevail.

The group said the conflict stems from a boundary dispute involving overlapping territorial claims. It noted that there was previously no conflict because traditional boundaries had long been recognized under the pagta, the customary peace pact governing relations between the two tribes.

The first tribal war erupted in 2000 and was allegedly triggered by logging activities conducted by residents of Barangay Bugnay, a Butbut sub-tribe, within territory claimed by Betwagan, along with other longstanding issues.

The conflict lasted from 2000 to 2012, severely affecting both communities by disrupting livelihoods, halting children's education, and claiming lives.

According to MAITUD, six members of the Butbut tribe were killed, including one who later died from injuries, while four members of the Betwagan tribe were killed and one was wounded.

Throughout the conflict, various groups worked to broker peace through negotiations involving neutral parties, including the Binodngan Peoples Organization (BCPO) in Kalinga and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) in Mountain Province.

These efforts resulted in a peace pact under the leadership of Martin Gayudan of the Butbut tribe and Tangkiao of the Betwagan tribe, allowing residents to resume farming, return children safely to school, and move freely between communities.

After nearly a decade of peace, hostilities resumed following two major developments.

The first involved a cadastral survey conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which the Betwagan tribe claimed favored Barangay Bugnay by placing Mount Ikar, an area they consider part of their ancestral territory, within Bugnay's boundary.

The second involved Bugnay residents grazing cattle on Mount Ikar, which Betwagan residents also claim as their territory.

Although several dialogues were held, negotiations failed after the Betwagan tribe demanded that Bugnay residents remove their cattle from the disputed area, a condition rejected by the Butbut tribe.

As tensions escalated, the Betwagan Ub-ubbo farmers' organization sought MAITUD's assistance in facilitating peace talks.

Together with the Mountain Province Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative, members of the Social Concern of the Anglican Church, and a Catholic priest from Bontoc, MAITUD visited both communities to study the dispute and proposed a face-to-face dialogue.

However, the talks stalled after the two tribes failed to agree on a venue. The mediation group also observed signs of an impending tribal raid, prompting the suspension of the peace process.

The conflict resumed in July 2020 when the Betwagan tribe launched an attack on Bugnay.

Since then, government agencies and peace advocates, including the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, and local organizations from Kalinga and Mountain Province, have attempted to mediate, but without success.

MAITUD and the Binodngan Peoples Organization made another attempt to revive negotiations after receiving renewed requests from both tribes.

In October 2024, respected Butbut elder Lakay Banag Sinumlag personally delivered a peace token to the Betwagan tribe as a gesture to reopen dialogue, but the offer was rejected.

The renewed conflict has again taken a heavy toll on both communities.

According to MAITUD, the Butbut tribe has recorded three deaths and six injuries, while the Betwagan tribe has reported three deaths and five injuries.

Three police officers were also injured by defensive spear traps, locally known as balais, installed by Bugnay residents.

MAITUD said the continued hostilities only deepen the psychological trauma of affected communities and lead to further loss of life.

The organization stressed that lasting peace depends on the willingness of both tribes to respect one another and engage in sincere dialogue.

"No tribal war lasts forever," the group said, adding that peace can only be achieved when both sides address the root causes of the conflict through mutual respect and good-faith negotiations.