Army files complaint vs NPA before 'bodong' tribal court

LA Trinidad, Benguet - For the first time in the history of Cordillera,  Philippine Army troopers formally sought the intervention of the indigenous justice system called “Bodong” in seeking redress over killing of two soldiers escorting precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines by New People's Army rebels last May 9.

The Isabela-based 5th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army formally filed a complaint before the Office of the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council (MBCC) in Tabuk City, Kalinga province headed by Tabuk City Mayor Ferdinand Tubban.

Army corporals Wilfredo Bacacao and Allen Pattaguan were killed when an undetermined number of NPA rebels ambushed their group escorting PCOS machines and Commission on Elections personnel in Sitio Patiking, Barangay Dupag, Tabuk.

1st Lt. Rowena Abayon, spokesperson of the 5th ID, said that the Army decided to file a complaint before the MBCC because one of the slain soldiers -- Corporal Pattaguan -- and a wounded soldier are natives of Kalinga. He said all native residents of Kalinga have rights to seek justice through the "Bodong system."

Abayon said the Philippine Army “wants perpetrators and their supporters and contacts in the barangay be meted punishment in accordance to local traditional decree of the Bodong System.”

She said that the MBCC has convened last Tuesday at the Tabuk City Hall to resolve the complaint.