LETTERS

‘Lt. Gen. Maclang's men killed a civilian, not NPA’

Last April 6, DZRH radio reporter Joe Dasig cited Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang's claim that the 21st IB and the 77th IB under the 501st Infantry Brigade of the AFP killed an NPA guerrilla and wounded two others in Mabongtot, Lubuagan, Kalinga. This is entirely false. Shot to death by the fascist AFP was a civilian teenager, Rey Lugao, 17 years old, from the Mabongtot tribe in the municipality of Lubuagan.

On April 2, a platoon of soldiers from the 21st IB and the 77th IB from Dupag, Tabuk, and another platoon from Cagaluan, Pasil launched combat operations in Dupag, Tabuk. On the evening of April 3, these platoons converged at Tanglag, Lubuagan.

They proceeded to Mabongtot the next day where they met Rey Lugao who was on his way to the tribe's communal pastureland to tend his family's carabao. He had with him a hunting rifle. The soldiers investigated and tried to force him to admit that he was an NPA guerrilla. They hit him repeatedly trying to force the innocent teenager to point to the location of NPA camps. Not getting any information, the trigger-happy soldiers shot him to death and took his gun. His body bore several gunshot wounds.

Mere possession of a firearm does not warrant death. The murder of Rey Lugao is a gross violation of human rights. The military has again displayed its ignorance of tribal tradition and blatant diregard for international protocols of war and human rights,
considering that Rey was disarmed and rendered helpless. He should have been accorded due process.

This is not the first time that the Mabongtot tribe has suffered from militarization and human rights violations. In the 1980s, the AFP unleashed untold violence on the Mabongtot people and other tribes who opposed the Chico dam projects of the US-Marcos dictatorship. In 2004, a operating troops of the AFP fired on a Mabongtot youth named Pallong, and was wounded in the arm. He was falsely declared as a captured NPA by MIG Agent Galang Dumallay, who also belonged to the Mabongtot tribe. Then in 2005, the army troopers beat up Pallong's brother for several hours on suspicion that he was supporting the NPA.

Rey Lugao is the 25th civilian killed by the AFP-PNP in Kalinga since 2001 when Arroyo climbed to power. Four other civilians were wounded during combat operations launched by the AFP in their counter-insurgency campaign under Oplan Bantay Laya.

Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang's claims – that the AFP has inflicted many casualties on the NPA, cut down the strength of the revolutionary people's army, and destroyed several guerrilla fronts in Northern Luzon – are just part of the US-Arroyo regime's delusion that it will significantly defeat the CPP-NPA by 2010.

These lies, incessantly chorused by Arroyo and her henchmen, are but a result of their daydreaming and part of their desperate attempt to shore up the sagging morale of the mercenary armed forces that keep on suffering one defeat after another from the tactical offensives of the NPA nationwide. These lies are also meant to cover up the spate of extrajudicial killings, abductions and other fascist terrorist acts against unarmed progressive forces, and to divert the attention of suffering Filipino masses who are victimized daily by worsening poverty and hunger.

These liars, led by the terrorist Arroyo, want to hide their defeats in the battlefield. Particularly in the armed struggle in the Ilocos-Cordillera Region, Comrade Martin Montana of the Chadli Molintas Command has clearly pointed out in his statement for the 39th Anniversary of the NPA that "the victories achieved by the people's army in the field of battle in 2007 exceed those of 2006. In 2006, the enemy suffered 53 casualties and the NPA seized 29 firearms in 26 battles. In 2007, the enemy sustained 61 killed in action (the equivalent of a company), 39 wounded, four captured and later released, and 12 firearms seized in 27 battles. Of these, 21 were initiated by the NPA."

The Lejo Cawilan Command of the NPA in Kalinga has contributed significantly toward advancing the armed revolution. From 2003 to 2007, the LCC fought 29 battles, 21 of which were tactical offensives initiated by the people's army. The enemy forces suffered 29 killed, 27 wounded, and 31 high-powered rifles and a handgun seized by the NPA. On the NPA side, there were two killed, five wounded, two captured, and two firearms lost.

With the worsening economic and political crises nationwide due to the continuing exploitative and oppressive rule of the big landlord-comprador classes and the persistent terrorism and corruption of the Arroyo puppet regime, more and more Filipinos will join the NPA. The revolutionary forces will keep on advancing day after day and will win more victories in terms of revolutionary base building, agrarian revolution, and armed struggle. Like OBL 1, OBL 2 will surely fail and the Filipino people will kick out the stinking Arroyo gang from power.

We call on the Mabongtot tribal elders to exact justice for Rey Lugao by sending their sons and daughters to the NPA. We call on all families who have been victimized by the fascist AFP-PNP to join the people's war, inflict more casualties on the reactionary AFP-PNP, and put an end to this disgusting Arroyo regime.

Ka Tipon Gil-ayab
Spokesperson
Lejo Cawilan Command
New People’s Army, Kalinga



Lady wants money back from former cop boyfriend

This is to seek your views about this matter, and to clear my mind in coming up with the right decision. I wasn't exactly sure if I would post this, mainly because I thought it might go somewhere. But anyhow, this is my story:

Things have finally come to a head in me rather tumultuous relationship with my boyfriend, and I’ve finally gotten the courage to pull the plug. The only problem is that he still owes me P15, 000 that I loaned him over two months ago. I now realize that loaning him anything was a rather stupid move, but I really want to get my money back. He’s completely irresponsible, which is half the reason why I ended things with him to begin with, so I know it's not going to be as simple as just asking him nicely.

This boyfriend text messaged me that he was problematic about need of money because he’s broke and he needed to travel for work to Makati back in February. He said he can’t borrow from his parents because it will just end in arguments. Because of sympathy I met him up then lent him P3,000. The next time he was back to Baguio City , he was settling a case filed against him because of hurting a guy.

The complainants were asking for P25,000, and this boyfriend didn’t have enough money to cash it. Because of the idea of helping him solve his problem, I loaned him P7,000. He moved to Palawan the following days, and came back for the flower festival. He spent sometime in the city, and before he left for work he asked again for money because he was short so I then handed him P5,000 with the promise that it will be re-paid after he gets his salary.

This money was originally intended for my balance (consultancy/agency fee) for abroad, and he understood that. I was told he gave his salary for his uncle’s child tuition fee after a month so I can understand why he wasn’t able to pay as originally promised but it is April now and my money still hasn't arrived.

How can I force this person to pay back my money? Some friends said it is worth it to file in small claims court for P15, 000.00. My trust and friendship to him is already kind of ruined since he never paid no matter how I try to remind him through text messages.

This person, Rico Sandoval is a new police captain as I was told by him.

Sincerely,

Conifer

(You may approach your former boyfriend’s PNP superiors first to convince him to pay the money. If not, you may consider legal options. – NPT)