Kitab Article VIII Sections 1 and 2 Law and Penalty for Murder

Article VIII. Tribal Justice System

Section 1. The Kitab is the law that the tribe follows and is implemented in the community to resolve problems. The datus or the Ulu-Ulu or Pig-ulukan Datu resolves the problems. The victim and suspect are summoned to know the root of the matter.
(1) Antang–The highest process attended by the Ulu-ulu or Pig-ulukan Datu, the Ngipin Ulu, or the datus, who lead in the resolution of the problem so that the matter between two parties does not get worse
(2) Ukit–The process used by the Ulu-Ulu or Pig-ulukan Datu, the Ngipin Ulu, or the datu in fixing the problems of the tribe
(3) Kukum–The datu resolves the law of the tribe
(4) Kukuman–A method that is a policy implemented by the leaders of the tribe
(5) Temulu–The people are taught well how to live properly in the locality.
(6) Tegodon–The negotiators narrate the problems and experiences of both parties.
(7) Uledin–Laws of the chieftain implemented in the community of Dulangan Manobos
(8) Seitisay Wayeg–If both sides seem to have enough defenses, water is poured on a headscarf to know which party is at fault. The accuser and the suspect hold the scarf. If the water drips, it means that the accusation is true and the suspect should be killed. If the water does not drip, the accuser should be killed.
(9) Inedof Fotow–The datu assigns a person to heat a metal. When the metal is hot, call the suspect and make him hold the hot metal. If his palm is burned, it means he is guilty and he should be killed. If his palm is not burned, kill the accuser.

Section 2. Punishment for Murder
(1) The datu first asks the victim and the suspect to know everything about the crime. This also depends on the murdered person, datu or ordinary person.
(2) The datu asks the parents of the victim if they want payment.
(3) Bangon–The family of the victim and the murderer face each other in the presence of the datu. If both parties agree that the murderer shall pay seven animals to the family of the dead, both parties shall drink water. This signifies that the two sides are in good terms again.
(4) Tuyot Depanog–A payment of one valuable item or two horses should be made so that the soul of the victim will return.

(This post is a part of a series on Kitab, the customary law of the Dulangan Manobos. See my introductory post for the list of posts containing all the sections of the law. You may also see the original Filipino version on Scribd.)