Abra residents, NPA, IP group hit Army for activist family’s massacre

Another cause-oriented organization involved in indigenous people’s rights and villagers in Baay-Licuan, Abra pointed to military troops as the ones who killed a former New People’s Army rebel, his father and brother recently in the town even as the Army still insisted it was the NPA which committed the crime   

The Tongtongan Ti Umili said it was elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army who massacred the Ligiw family and buried them in a shallow grave.

The ProcopioTauro Front, under the Agustin Begnalen Command – NPA Abra also condemned the killing of the Ligiw family and vowed to “punish” the 41st IB.  

Danreb Bringgas, spokesperson of PTF-NPA North Abra said the grave of the victims was found after four days of searching by community folk from Sucao and nearby communities, relatives of the victims, and barangay officials.

Bringgas said according to residents, Jessy Ligiw, son and brother of the victims, arrived at their pakalso (hut) and found it deserted with the family’s belongings scattered.

He also found prints of combat shoes surrounding the pakalso.

On that date, residents said they observed troops of the Alpha Coy of the 41st IB within the family’s production area.

Relatives of the Ligiw family and Sucao folks immediately launched a search for the victims.

Bringgas said residents tried to search for them in the Bantugo detachment and called on Batallion Commander Lt. Col. Danilo Domingo to inquire about the victims’ whereabouts but the soldiers reportedly did not say anything.

On March 6, after search by more than 50 residents of Licuan, Malibcong and Lacub, they found a grave in  Kapualan, part of Sitio Sucao.

On March 7, part of the body (shoulder) of LakayLicuben along with his slippers was reportedly found in the said area.

Before this event, Freddie reportedly bumped into the forces of the Bravo Coy of the 41st IB headed by 1st Lt. Delos Santos last Feb. 22 while their operation was ongoing in Kabayabasan, between Licuan and Lacub and was forcibly held by the troopers from 1 to 8 p.m.

Abayon, chief of public affairs office of the army’s 5th ID based in Isabela province, insisted however it was the NPA which perpetrated  the crime and the military was set to file charges against rebels before the Commission on Human Rights regional office in Baguio City.

She said involved in the filing of the complainants are elements of the Army’s 41st IB, the Philippine National Police  and barangay officials of Dominglay in Baay-Licuan, Abra, who responded to the scene where the bodies of the victims were found to bear torture marks last March 7.

She quoted military officers as saying the NPA killed the Ligiws because they guided them in pursuing the rebels.

The TTU however said the Ligiws were forced to guide the troopers and the former were due to file a case against the latter for coercing them.

“We fear for the bereaved Ligiw family, the women and children of Baay-Licuan specifically in SitoSukaw who are now living in fear because of the massacre and continued encampment of the soldiers.,” the TTU said in a statement.

“Disturbance of their livelihood activities due to fear will eventually lead to hunger. On the other hand, the province of Abra has not yet overcome the human rights violations perpetrated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its every anti-insurgency plan. These violations include rape, abandonment of pregnant women, courting minors and even married women, disrupting economic activities, indiscriminate firing and bombing, and vilifying community leaders. This time, the AFP unmasked the face of terror with this barbaric incident. We demand for the immediate pull out of the 41st IBPA in Baay-Licuan.”

The TTU said “after the massacre of Freddie “Fermin”, Eddie and Licuben Ligiw, (without little respect in time of grieving), the troops stayed in the community despite rage of women and elders towards them calling for their pullout.”

Fermin was reportedly a member of AnakbayanAbra. His brother Eddie and father Licuben are leaders of Lenneng- Killeng Tingguian Farmers Association (LEKITIFA) which is a member organization of Kakailian Salaknibantay Amin a Nagtaudan (KASTAN), a chapter of Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) in Abra.

They were all active leaders in the campaign against large-scale mining in Baay-Licuan. Prior to their massacre, Fermin was reportedly coerced by the 41st IBPA led by a certain Lt. Col. Domingo to guide them in their combat operations in the perceived locations of the NPA in the area.

He was reportedly about to report to Abra Human Rights Alliance on March 4-5, 2014 regarding the incident but he never made it. They were last seen in their farm on March 2, 2014 but they never made it home.

Data from a week-long fact finding mission led by the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) pinpoints the 41st IBPA as perpetrator of the massacre.

Village folks reportedly pointed at the soldiers who were encamped in the village since February 20 as perpetrators.

The Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) earlier assailed the military for the death of the Ligiws perpetrators should be punished and made to account for their crime.

The KAMP pointed to army troops as responsible for the crime and urged the national government to probe the matter and bring perpetrators to justice.