BONTOC, Mountain Province – Mayor Franklin Odsey here formalized the representation of the Council of Elders of Bontoc (CEB) in conflict resolution.

Close to a hundred participants representing the 16 barangays of this capital town composite of community elders, tribal key leaders, and peace pact holders gathered at the Ridgebrook Hotel and Restaurant on Friday last week for an orientation cum forum, and for formal recognition purposes.

In his welcome address, Odsey thanked the elders for their perfect attendance and applauded their unrecognized yet continuing all-out support and volunteerism relative to the maintenance of peace and order in the tribal communities.

“We are gathered here today to discuss vital issues affecting the roles of the Council of Elders in conflict resolution. While it’s true that the government recognizes the indigenous methods of dispute resolution, the penalties imposed by the tribal elders have some legal impediments,” he said. The mayor is referring to the P160,000 and P120,000 fines for murder and serious physical injuries, respectively, as provided under the memorandum of agreement signed by the officials and tribal leaders of the four central barangays of Bontoc.      

A similar view was noted when guest of honor, vice governor Louis Claver Jr. said, “The P160,000 penalty being imposed by the CEB is unconstitutional.”

“Peace and order has a very wide scope and good cultural practices based from the pechen or peace pact agreements that have been enforced in successfully resolving cases, especially murder,” Claver said.
Atty. Jaime Gomez, former governor of Mountain Province and now a member of the Barangay Council of Elders of Poblacion, said that the government needs the Council of Elders in conflict resolution.

“During the Chico River Dam issue, it was the representation of tribal elders whom then president Ferdinand Marcos entertained and not the politicians,” he said.

Alan Bacwaden, the municipal interior and local government officer of the LGU, presented to the council  the designated members representing the barangay and municipal level as based from the criteria of selection provided under Municipal Ordinance 83, s. 2005.

Bacwaden said that the Barangay Council of Elders is chaired by the barangay captain with two Ato (dap-ay) representatives, two peace pact holders, and one barangay councilor who chairs the committee on peace and order as members. The same is true with the Municipal Council of Elders, except that one Ato representative is added.