Let there be Peace: PROCOR meets with Butbut Reps

Following the recent dialogue with the neutral tribes of Basao and Saclit, the Police Regional Office Cordillera held a consultative meeting with the representatives of Butbut tribe on January 27, 2021 at the Municipal Hall of Tinglayan, Poblacion, Kalinga.

The meeting was presided over by the PROCOR Deputy Regional Director for Operations, Police Colonel JOHN C CHUA, who represents the Regional Director. Also in attendance were the Chief Regional Staff PCOL RAMIL L SACULLES, Butbut tribe elders representing the five Barangays, municipal officials headed by the Tinglayan Mayor Hon Sacrament Gumilab and counterparts from the different partner-agencies.

During the meeting, Police Colonel Saculles gave updates on the investigations currently being conducted by PROCOR, to mellow the provincial boundary with the Municipal border in relation to the old historical boundaries of the conflicting tribes.

In response to the presented data, Butbut elders suggested that the fact-finding body should invite other elders from the neutral tribes that are more knowledgeable on the boundary issue, who will serve as  the resource persons.This was acknowledged by PCOL Saculles who reiterated that the identified resource persons will be invited on a separate forum to bring along available documents and at the same time give their own account as to the supposed boundary.

Hon Gumilab in his message, thanked the PROCOR and its partners for their peace initiative, citing that the previous intervention efforts have resulted in deadlock. He further underscored the importance of cooperation and openness on the part of the parties involved in order to achieve  peaceful resolution of the tribal conflict. (PROCOR RPIO)