Two warring Cordillera tribes agree to truce

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines —  The Betwagan tribe of Sadanga, Mountain Province and the Butbut tribe of Tinglayan, Kalinga have agreed to a truce, a step meant to end two decades of conflict over land and water in their shared boundary area.

The long-standing dispute has cost lives and posed dangers to businesses and school children of both tribes.

In the agreement signed by tribal leaders and witnessed by police and military officers over the weekend, the tribes promised to avoid fighting, issuing threats and other acts meant to intimidate the other side.