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Respect our neutrality—Uma

As Balatoc-Guinaang conflict worsens

BAGUIO CITY (Mar. 10) — In a tribal elders assembly, the Uma sub-tribe of Lubuagan, Kalinga urged the warring sub-tribes of Balatoc and Guinaang to restrain from committing acts as a consequence of their on-going tribal war of the latter two-tribes inside their territory.

The Balatoc and Guinaang sub-tribes conflict worsened when an alleged Balatoc warrior killed a Guinaang tribe member on January 12 in the contested boundary between the two sub-tribes.

More than 100 tribal elders and leaders of three Uma barangays adopted a resolution to protect the security of the members of the Uma sub-tribe due to the extensive effect of the Balatoc-Guinaang tribal war. The resolution narrates that war nearly broke between the Guinaang and Balatoc warriors in Lower Uma when Guinanang warriors stopped a vehicle with passengers from Uma. There was an exchange of gunfire between the two sub-tribes in Lower Uma.

The resolution also serves to have the warring tribes sit down and talk address the tribal issues. Lakay Balcanao of Uma said in an interview that they already handed their resolution to the Guinaang and Balatoc tribes through their peace pact holders. The Uma sub-tribe has a bodong (peace pact) with both tribes, he added.

The resolution contained the following prohibitions: both the warriors of the Guinaang and Balatoc are prohibited to pass by Uma when they go to war (mangayao); to harass Uma jeepney passengers whether inside or outside the Uma territory; except in cases of emergency, villagers of Balatoc and Guinaang are prohibited from boarding passenger vehicles carrying Uma villagers; Balatoc and Guinaang villagers are prohibited to establish their post in Uma territories; armed members of the said warring sub-tribes are prohibited from going into the communal forest in Uma without the latter’s consent; and the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit and Civilian Volunteers Organization (CAFGU-CVO) from the said warring sub-tribes are prohibited to join military operations in the Uma territory.

Their tribal war’s history

Elders interviewed by Nordis shared that the Balatoc and Guinaang tribal war started sometime in the 1960s.

Before the conflict, a mountain near the boundary of the two tribes forms part of the territory of the Guinaang sub-tribe. The Balatoc tribe requested the Guinaang tribe to utilize the forest and the latter agreed.

Due to the increasing population among the Guinaang, they requested the return of the forest to them but the Balatoc tribe failed to return it. Tribal conflict ensued and exists up to present.

Since the Uma sub-tribe maintains a peace pact with both tribes, Uma elders adopted the resolution for their protection, and to help re-establishing the Guinaang and Balatoc peace pact. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS

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