Baac diffuses CPLA tension / Korean builds clinic in Tabuk

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March L. Fianza

All things come to an end. Meek as lambs, members of the “soon to be old-fashioned” Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army of the late Father Conrado Balweg obeyed the request of Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac to come to a dialogue and thresh out problems between themselves.

Apart from the tension produced by the misunderstanding between the two CPLA camps and the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the Wednesday afternoon atmosphere was wrapped with joyfulness as it was Baac’s 50th birthday.

Those present in the dialogue were the Armed Forces of the Philippines represented by Col. Yerson Depayso and Col. Eugene Batara, the Philippine National Police represented by Senior Supt. Ernesto Gaab, representatives from the OPAPP, Mayor Gabby Ganggangan of Sadanga, Mt. Province; and Kalinga local government unit heads James Eduba , Johnny Dickpus, Fernando Abay and Johnny Tiggangay.

I was quite surprised with how Baac managed and controlled the heated discussion in the CPLA dialogue. Unfortunately, nobody among the newsmen present brought a videocam to document the live proceedings. It could have been good material for mediators and negotiators.

The governor’s comments and body language in diffusing the tension were worth appreciating. For example, he jokingly redefined Cordillera Bodong Administration or CBA as “Cordillera Basketball Association” which made the crowd and both CPLA factions smile.

The faction under Engr. Andy Ngao-i and Mike Sugguiyao has been questioning the MOA signed between the OPAPP and the CBA-CPLA faction under Marcelia Bahatan, Arsenio Humiding and because of the term “closure” that was used in the agreement.

Here, Baac jokingly said if the term “closure” is causing the problem then it can easily be changed to “closet…”

Mayor Ganggangan and the OPAPP said the MOA aims to transform the CBA-CPLA into an economic body where livelihood, employment and development projects in CPLA areas would be pursued.

But while the Kalinga mayors of towns where the CPLA is present understand the fact that the MOA was in effect since it was already signed, they gladly welcomed the socio-infra projects attached to the agreement.

On the other hand, while Ngao-i’s faction respects the stand of the mayors who welcomed the implementation of the projects, the group says the MOA or “closure agreement” connotes the resumption of hostilities because it practically closes the “ceasefire agreement” that was signed on Sept. 13, 1986 by the CPLA and Malacanang.

“How could Humiding bind us when we were not consulted about the MOA,” Ngao-i continued and lashed at the OPAPP saying, “Maybe OPAPP does not want Cordillera to have peace because once we have peace, they will no longer exist.”

CPLA member Juanita Chulsi said the MOA should not compromise the Mt. Data “Sipat” or peace agreement. In an emotional mode she said, “Gabby and Humiding, you can have all the development you want but do not compromise the Mt. Data peace accord.”

Here, after listening to expressive outbursts, Baac would again hold the speakers by saying “aguray pay… ag-relax tayo pay.” I saw this as a practical step in mediating heated speakers. Of course, the mediator or the person presiding should be acceptable to both parties.

Old friend and co-musician Lawrence Bayongan was also emotional as he suggested that OPAPP creates a trust fund or download the project funds worth hundreds of millions to the LGUs and do away with the committee that will assist in the implementation of the projects.

Earlier in separate instances, I talked to representatives of both CPLA factions where I sensed that they partly blamed the OPAPP for allowing the MOA without satisfying the sentiments of all camps concerned.

Baac likened the CPLA issue to a “sleeping tiger” that was awakened and that was not easy to control. “If this will lead to gulo (disorderliness), I will ask the PNoy to suspend the implementation of the MOA,” he told both CPLA groups.

Humiding, Ganggangan and the group of Ngao-i and Sugguiyao could not give me answers why OPAPP agreed to the proposals of one but denied the proposals of the other, when both submitted proposals that they thought were for the development of the CPLA communities.

This also puzzled the mayors, prompting Edubba to suggest that OPAPP meet with the faction of Ngao-i so they can also present their proposal.

The latest agreement was for both CPLA factions to continue meeting with Baac who chairs the Regional Development Council and the Regional Peace and Order Council chaired by Ifugao Gov. Eugene Balitang, before they seek audience with PNoy.

At least, the tension-filled dialogue between two opposing CPLA groups was fruitful in a way because its members were able to express whatever anger they kept in their hearts.
***
Henry Gupaal of the governor’s office helped us maximize our quick visit to Kalinga by assisting us to more news that was worth writing about.

Some 20 kilometers away, we drove on Jonathan “Baac” Llanes car to find out that a Foundation based in South Korea built a two-building mini-hospital in Barangay Agbanawag, Tabuk.

The mini-hospital under the watch of Dr. Ruth Duguiang can accommodate more than a dozen patients, who after receiving first aid or primary treatment and diagnosis, may be transferred to bigger hospitals.

At present, the mini-hospital that was funded by some US$33,000 assistance from Sec. Gen. Mr. Heung Sik Shin of the Medical Peace Foundation, caters to residents of four neighboring barangays and the nearby town of Quezon, Isabela.

This was constructed during the time of then Gov. Dominador Belac but its operation was stopped as the province did not have extra funds to operate it. Soon after, its roof was blown away by a typhoon.

Gupaal said, Gov. Baac was able to secure funds for its repair and made it operational, again with the help of the Korean Foundation. This was considered a project under the Public-Private-Partnership program of PNoy. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com