Cordillera Political Leadership

Normative Dimension

• This section explores the normative dimension of political leadership and justice within the Cordillera communities.

Indigenous Concept of Political Leadership

• This explores the qualities and qualifications considered ideal for leaders within indigenous communities.

Ibaloy Leadership

• The Ibaloy community is governed by the tongtong council.
• The tongtong council is responsible for settling disputes.
• The tongtong council settles disputes among persons, families, and neighboring communities.
• Councilmen of the tongtong council are not paid for their services.
• The tongtong council is composed of elders, called baknang, who are rich and intelligent.

Kankanaey Leadership

• Lakay or amam-a are elders sanctioned by villagers as the community's decision-makers.
• Lakay or amam-a are part of the community power elite.
• The functions, tasks and responsibilities include directing, restraining, and advising heads of families.
• The functions, tasks and responsibilities include prescribing the holding of feasts when necessary.

Northern Kankaney Leadership

• In Sagada and Besao which are both part of Mountain Province, old men affiliated with different wards become the political leaders.

Bontok Leadership

• The decision-makers in Bontok are the amam-a, or old men who are affiliated with a particular ator.
• The elders collectively form the decision-making council of the ili, rather than representing individual wards when the welfare of the villagers are involved..
• Seniority and life experience automatically qualify elders to sit in the Bontok village decision-making body.

Kalinga Leadership

• Kalinga leadership roles include Pangats (powerful individuals with achieved status) and Go-betweens (mangiugud).
• The qualifications for Pangats include wealth, lineage, family connections, personality, cooperativeness, fairness, oratorical ability, and a record of settling controversies.
• A Pangat needs a reputation as a "dangerous man" who is feared by his own village mates.
• A Pangat is expected to share material goods and indemnities collected from other regions or from his own people for offenses.

Kalinga Go-betweens

• Go-betweens (mangiugud) arrange settlements between kinship groups involved in controversies within the territorial unit.
• Go-betweens are selected by the pangats and receive gifts from those who receive substantial payments.
• Go-between's gifts run in value from 5-10% of the total fine received.
• Go-between qualifications include maturity, influence, strong family backing and a past as a renowned warrior.

Ifugao Leadership

• Monkalun have no authority but form a whole court for criminal cases.
• During a truce, the monkalun are responsible for wounding or killing an offender to the conflict.
• Punishment by monkalun is done publicly.
• Go-betweens in Ifugao are responsible to both parties in a transaction, for the rendering of tenders, offers, and payments.
• An Ifugao go-between is impartial, utilizes persuasion and tact, and playing on human emotions.
• An Ifugao go-between is paid for their services.

Isneg Leadership

• Kamenglan serve as traditional leaders and go-betweens in the Isneg community.
• In terms of status of the Kamenglan serve a role similar to Kalinga's pangat.

Responsibilities of Kamenglan

• Lead head-taking expeditions and defend against other headtakers.
• Maintain peace and order.
• Settle disputes among community members.
• Train the youth for warfare.
• Maintain the balance in the economy.

Tinguian Leadership

• Lalakay are the community decision-makers.
• Qualifications of Lalakay are the same as the elders in Kabkanaey, Ibaloy, and Bontok communities.

Indigenous Concept of Justice

• Decision-making relating to justice is collective.
• As a general rule, an individual elder cannot make decisions alone on behalf of the whole community.
• In parts of Kalinga and Abra, an elder can make decisions on behalf of the whole community, but other elders must be aware of the actions.

"Pechen" of Bontok

• Pechen are Bontok peace pacts originating from ped-nan, meaning "to hold tight to a grip."
• Pechen are ritualized contracts between two warring villages aimed at ending warfare and establishing peaceful relationships.

Procedure of Pechen

• Forging of the peace pact involves a warrang (community) sending a request to sue for peace.
• The request to sue for peace or warrang is symbolized by the presentation of a head-axe or spear.
• Senglip involves both sides making an accounting of their losses and negotiating fines.
• Chuwar includes the invitation of peace between both sides.
• Eret serves as a non-violent remedy for breach of contract like theft, battery, insult, or wounding, by paying a fine..
• Fakas nan pechen describes the "rupturing of the pact" which dissolves a peace pact automatically when any act of murder occurs.

"Bodong" of Kalinga

• "Bodong" of Kalinga involves the political institution that allows for theresolution of intervillage or inter-region conflict in the peace pact.

Bodong Includes

• A statement of the boundaries of each region which defines the people for whom each pact-holder is responsible.
• Responsibilities of pact-holder within his region; for the acts of citizens of his region.
• Responsibilities of pact-holder in "pollution" cases ensure neither region pollutes the soil of the other with foreign blood.
• Guarantee of hospitality to visitors from pact-holders. Each pact-holder guarantees visitors from the other region shelter and food
• Pact-holders' responsibility in cases of illness involving co-pact citizens
• Assistance extended to trading partners.
• Responsibility in theft cases.
• Responsibility in collecting debts.

Types of Offenses

• Public offenses include encroachment on the boundary of the community, injuries involving outsiders, and destruction of private property.
• Petty offenses include theft of small items and offenses resulting from drunkenness.
• Public disturbance resulting from drunkenness is considered both a public and petty offense.

Seeking Redress

• Aggrieved parties are the individuals that has the right to seek redress when injury is done.
• As a general rule, the individual or the family of the aggrieved has the right to seek redress.
• In Tingguian and Abra, friends of the aggrieved are an exception and can seek redress.

Fines as Punishment

• Fines are considered a standard punishment.
• Standard of fines are either "traditional" or based on the "barangay ordinance."

Vengeance

• Vengeance is generally not allowed, but it is unpreventable in some cases.
• “An eye for an eye.” is considered a possible outcome when vengeance is sort after.

Justice in Cordillera

• Offenses are generally viewed as directed to the collectivity rather than just the individual
• Some IPs show is dissatisfaction with the national legal system due to incompatibility between folk culture dominated by kinship.
• Western-style legal system views and treats the individual, not collectively, as the principal subject of law.