Tribal clash spurs police deployment

BAGUIO CITY — The Police Regional Office-Cordillera has deployed personnel to Tinglayan, Kalinga, after fighting erupted anew between the Butbut and Tulgao tribes.

The deployment includes officers from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 and the Mountain Province Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC).

Police are conducting visibility patrols, coordinating with local officials and tribal elders, and carrying out community outreach under Oplan Bandillo to prevent retaliatory attacks.

Officers with personal or cultural ties to the communities involved were also included in the deployment to help mediate and ease tensions between the two groups.

The renewed conflict disrupted a three-month ceasefire signed on 30 July, intended to halt fighting over long-standing boundary disputes.

Previous peace efforts included mediation and traditional exchanges known as sipat. Tribal elders and civil society representatives had warned that short-term ceasefires remain fragile unless the formal requirements of the traditional peace pact system, known as bodong, are fully met.

Amid the renewed shooting incidents, local authorities issued safety advisories restricting travel to seven mountain villages, including Buscalan, Tulgao East and Tulgao West.

Schools in the affected areas also shifted to remote learning to keep students and teachers away from potential crossfire.

The regional police called on tribal elders and community members to cease hostilities and settle their differences through customary tribal mechanisms and legal channels.

Security forces will remain in Tinglayan to maintain peace and protect residents while efforts to resume peace talks continue.