(Photo courtesy of PNA)
BAGUIO CITY – Kalinga’s centuries-old peace pact system, known as bodong, has attracted the interest of Malaysian delegates seeking to study the Indigenous practice as a possible model for resolving conflicts in their country.
Andres Ngao-i, chairperson of the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council and secretary-general of the Kalinga Bodong Council, said Thursday that Malaysian participants expressed interest in the system during the ASEAN Peace Education High-Level Conference in Metro Manila.
“The Malaysian participants in the ASEAN Peace Education High-Level Conference in Metro Manila took interest after my presentation and talk on the bodong system of settling disputes,” Ngao-i said.
He said the delegates were considering a visit to Kalinga to gain a deeper understanding of the traditional conflict-resolution mechanism, which has long been practiced among Indigenous communities in the province.
The conference, organized by the Department of Education and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, seeks to promote peace education across Southeast Asia through formal education and community-based initiatives.
The bodong system is governed by the pagta, a set of mutually agreed tribal laws that regulate relations between communities and provide mechanisms for resolving crimes, territorial disputes, and other conflicts.
Under the traditional process, peace negotiations begin with the sipat, an exchange of symbolic tokens signifying a ceasefire.
This is followed by the allasiw, which involves peace pact holders or neutral representatives working to establish trust and ensure safe passage between conflicting parties.
Negotiations then proceed under the agreed tribal laws, with elders and community leaders overseeing the implementation of settlements.
Kalinga Governor James Edduba emphasized that the bodong remains an essential part of the province’s cultural identity and peacekeeping traditions.
“Bodong is important to them, especially in settling disputes, because it has been the Kalinga people’s way of life and manner of maintaining peace and order between and among tribe members,” Edduba said.
He noted that maintaining peace among tribes also promotes economic activity, trade, and cooperation between communities.
The system continues to be used in resolving tribal disputes, including the ongoing conflict between the Butbut and Betwagan tribes.
Elders and neutral third parties, including representatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and other government agencies, have been assisting in mediation efforts.
Edduba said the Philippine legal system also recognizes alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms, allowing communities to settle certain conflicts outside formal court proceedings.
Similar customary peace agreements are practiced among Indigenous communities in neighboring Mountain Province and Abra.
The bodong system also played a role in the historic 1986 peace agreement between the administration of former President Corazon Aquino and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA), led by Conrado Balweg.
The agreement began with a sipat ceremony involving an exchange of symbolic items between Aquino and Balweg.
Aquino presented an assault rifle, a Bible, and a rosary, while Balweg offered a traditional spear and shield, or kalasag.
The agreement preceded the CPLA’s laying down of arms and the subsequent establishment of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Meanwhile, the Kalinga provincial government continues to strengthen mediation efforts to prevent tribal conflicts from escalating into violence.
Edduba said the Provincial Peace and Order Council has created a task force to address the dispute between the Tulgao and Butbut tribes.
He disclosed that he had inhibited himself from participating because of his membership in the Tulgao tribe, while the mayor of Tinglayan also stepped aside to ensure impartiality.
Kalinga Rep. Carolyn Agyao chairs the task force, with the vice governor serving as vice chair and representatives from various government agencies participating in the mediation process.
The provincial government is also studying additional measures to discourage tribal warfare and encourage peaceful negotiations in resolving boundary disputes.
Edduba expressed hope that continued education, dialogue, and respect for customary laws would help preserve the bodong tradition while strengthening lasting peace among Indigenous communities.
The interest shown by Malaysian delegates highlights the potential of Kalinga’s Indigenous peacebuilding practices to contribute to broader regional discussions on conflict resolution and community reconciliation.
