By Jack Turqueza
BANGUED, Abra - Typhoon "Igme" left four persons dead and hundreds homeless, caused heavy damage to the livestock industry of the province, and destroyed hundreds of hectares of agricultural crops as well as fishponds.
The typhoon also ruined water systems and infrastructure facilities in Abra.
Decimia Cabang, provincial social welfare officer and executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, identified the dead typhoon victims as Ismael Gayban, Gemma Malaggay and her three-year-old son Dale, and Melissa Balweg, 10, all residents of the upland town of Malibcong.
Gayban, 54, was buried in a landslide in Buanao, Malibcong night of July 27.
On the same day, Balweg was struck by a lightning in their home at Sitio Matalibeng, Barangay Mataragan at about 1 p.m.
Her grandmother who was her companion in the home was unharmed. Gemma, her husband, and son Dale reportedly insisted on crossing the already swollen river between Poblacion and Barangay Duldulao in Malibcong that afternoon.
As they were in the middle of the river, raging floodwaters carried them away. Mother and son drowned, but Gemma’s husband survived.
Multi-sectoral group hits unabated killings in Abra
By Jack Turqueza
BANGUED, Abra – A multisectoral group, composed of members of the clergy, the laity, academe, and media came out with a united stand and condemned the unabated killings in the province, especially in this capital town.
It was noted killings continued even after the 2007 elections.
A manifesto, which was a cry for justice and peace to reign again in Abra, was read Wednesday by Catholic Bishop Leopoldo C. Jaucian, SVD, in a mass he celebrated at the St. James the Elder Cathedral here.
In a text message to this correspondent, the bishop said the manifesto was timely, as the Church marked the 40th anniversary of the late Pope Paul VI’s July 29 "Humanae Vitae," the encyclical on the value, dignity and inviolability of human life.
The manifesto lamented "the wrong reasons for which Abra is again in the news." It pointed out that the series of murders committed inside the homes of the victims, inside offices, and in the streets under cover of darkness or in broad daylight, makes the residents worry about their safety, and these crimes truly make Abra live up to its tag as the "killing fields of the North."
"From the reports that as assassin can be hired for a few thousands pesos, life has become very cheap," it read.
In the manifesto, the multi-sectoral group noted the widespread perception of the people that scarcely any of the cases has been solved.
"The police, the military and local government units are supposed to have the training, the skills, and the resources to track down the criminals and bring them to the bar of justice. But no matter their efforts, the peace and order situation does not seem to improve," the manifesto added.
The group said violence will remain uncontrolled for reasons that authorities know the persons behind these killings, but much has not been done against them, as the masterminds are not afraid of the police because they are powerful to be untouchable, and assassins continue to kill with impunity because they are protected by certain authorities.
Admitting that the multi-sectoral group "does not have the power of guns, the influence of political positions, nor financial and manpower resources," the group said it remains optimistic of a better future, and urged concerned agencies to do their job as guarantors of peace and order.
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