Respect for Peace Zone, resumption of GRP-NDF talks pushed: Sagada folks, groups hit gov’t bombings

By Gina Dizon   

SAGADA,Mountain Province –Government officials, residents, a militant group and a party-list representative condemned bombing  operations perpetrated by the Philippine Air  Force  aided by the Regional  Public  Safety  Battalion of  the Philippine National Police here August 29-30.

Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, the Cordillera Human Rights Organization and the Cordillera People’s Alliance also denounced the bombings and strafing which they said, terrorized community folks.

This as local peace  initiatives were called for  maintain peace in the  community including banning of elements of the New People’s Army and  the Philippine Army from entering the community to realize Sagada as a peace zone, said Indigenous Peoples representative to the  Sanggunaing Bayan Jaime  Dugao.

Northern Pidlisan tribes here composed of six northern barangays, called for the demilitarization of the Pidlisan area from both the NPA and the AFP and other armed groups since the late 1980s when an elderly woman was hit in the crossfire between NPA and AFP armed operations inside the community.

Calls for demilitarization were repeated anew in 2008 and 2010.

In the recent meeting following the  August 29-30 incident, barangay officials  of the Pidlisan tribes of  northern Sagada- Tito Suvilla of Bangaan, Maximo Suyon of  Aguid, James Duyog of   Fidelisan,Herbam Soliaban of Pide,  Manuel Botoog of  Tanulong, Joseph Aclopen of  Madong-  joined   some local  government officials and condemned the bombing  of  the Demang watershed ranges  located in the tri-boundary of  Aguid, Sagada; Mainit, Bontoc; and Dalican, Bontoc.

Safe drinking water and irrigation for the villagers’ ricefields was a major concern aired during the assembly meeting.

Reports  noted that  water springs  tapped for domestic  water  including some portions of the Mabileng communal irrigation system were hit by recent indiscriminate bombings including  irrigation systems servicing the rice paddies at Ambuchaaw and Demang, Aguid, Sagada; Pakanan, Mainit; Matbo and Mapagpag, Dalican, Bontoc.

Aguid barangay chairman Maximo Duyog in an earlier interview said trees must have been hit recalling earlier military bombings which hit watersheds in the northern areas, as he expressed alarm that gunpowder and bomb explosives pose threat to the villagers’ water sources

The officials also condemned the encampment of the NPA Army inside the  community.

Members of the RPSB  entered the  community  August 29 to validate an NPA  camp which led to an NPA-RPSB  encounter and the wounding of two policemen.

In the same development, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) condemned the air strikes and strafing perpetrated by the Philippine Air force within the Demang mountain ranges.

The CHRA reported that the bombings affected the municipalities of Sagada, Besao, Sadanga and Bontoc in Mountain Province and Tubo, Abra; and Indigenous peoples belonging to Fidelisan, Dallic and Bontoc tribes were affected as air strikes targeted the communal hunting grounds, forest area, coffee and swidden farms and watershed of the five municipalities.

“We demand for the accountability of State armed forces, and we call on local officials of Mountain Province and the Cordillera, all peace-loving individuals and organizations, to condemn the militarization and push for the resumption of the peace negotiations of the Government of the Philippines (GPh) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to address the roots of the armed conflict towards attaining genuine, just and lasting peace,” said Abigail Anongos, secretary general of the CPA.

Locals said livelihood was badly affected by the military operations. Tourist guides in northern barrios were reportedly now losing as high as P4,000 daily due to such operations.

This reportedly did not include the drivers, vendors, restaurants and inns also badly affected.

The CPA said residents particularly children have been psychologically traumatized while the residents are reeling from terror due to bombings and destruction of properties.

           

Military operations were reportedly still taking place at press time in Sagada and nearby communities as a result of “Operation Plan (Oplan) Bayanihan.”

Malibcong in nearby Abra was reportedly  bombed early this year even as young women in Mankayan, Benguet were raped or sexually harassed last year as a result of Oplan Bayanihan.

Meanwhile, police said they overrun an NPA camp in Aguid camp on August 31.

The camp was well equipped and used by the rebels as training ground before launching attacks against government forces, according to Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong.

During the initial assault, Police Officers 1 Primo Marcelo and Romel Sagot were wounded.

They were taken to the Baguio City Medical Center for treatment.

That Friday morning, an air strike was launched by the military supposedly to stop enemy fire and  destroy  improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted around the camp.

Authorities reportedly found subversive documents, medical kits and IEDs inside the camp.

The Mt. Province-based Leonardo Pacsi Command of the Communist Party of the Philippines has not released any statement on the incident.

This, as Gabriela Womens Party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan denounced the aerial bombings .

“We strongly denounce the aerial bombings employed by the PNP and the AFP in its counter insurgency operations in Aguid, Sagada, Mountain Province,” said Ilagan said she supported the call of Sagada residents for an end to the bombings, saying that it has inflicted “immeasurable damage to indigenous people’s, communities, lives and livelihood.”

Ilagan said aerial attacks and “indiscriminate firing” were also reported in the municipalities of Besao, Sadanga, Bontoc where Fidelisan, Dallic and Bontoc tribes reside.

Police said the attacks were launched in retaliation against recent ambushes staged by the communist rebels.

“The trauma leaves permanent scars, making children constantly fearful if not violent,” she said.

Ilagan said this was not the first time that Cordillera communities reported aerial attacks.

A similar incident was reported last May 31 in Malibcong, Abra, where the 503rd Infantry Battalion reportedly dropped several bombs some 40 meters away from minors gathering snails in nearby rice fields and 60 meters away from a rice granary, she said.

“President] Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan has wreaked widespread destruction among indigenous communities. We join calls for the immediate demilitarization of Cordillera communities and hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable,” she said.