Sagada execs urge NPA for talks with town heads

Ambush of cop deplored; peace zone pushed 

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province – Officials here urged the New People’s Army for a dialogue with community leaders of this tourist town saying Sagada was a peace zone and this tourist town should be free from government and rebel combatants including armed hostilities. 

This, following ambush of SPO3 Wilfred BawayanDegay of the investigation unit of  regional police office Feb. 2 by the Leonardo Pacsi Command of the New People’s Army who took responsibility for the ambush claiming the latter’s “counter revolutionary activities.”   

Degay was shot in SitioDugo in the midst of the town’s annual festivity called “Etag Festival.”

A sangguniang bayan resolution condemned Degay’s “whimsical ambush” saying it violated Sagada being a peace zone where any armed element is not allowed to enter any part of the territory of the town.

Sagada folks belonging to the Banga-an Fidelisan Tanulong Pide and Aguid Association in Baguio City and Suburbs (BFTAMPABS) also condemned the NPA for its disregard of Sagada’s status as peace zone.

BFTAMPABS chairman Jose Ngina said Sagada was declared a peace zone in November 1988 and such atrocities by the NPA are not just unwelcome but blatant violation of the town’s status.

Sagada was unilaterally declared demilitarized town by the community following the deaths of three innocent children in 1988 due heavy armed fighting between the NPA and government troops.

This followed with inclusion of Sagada as one among seven  special development  areas or peace zones in the  country after  the proposal of  then Sen. Rodolfo Biazon was approved in 1993 by Malacanang and  P5 million for each of the peace zones was granted development funds.  

Sagada utilized its P5 million grant for a waterworks project.

Through time since Sagada was a peace zone, officials and residents said this was violated a number of times by the NPA and the AFP even if local leaders and  community asserted their stand against entry of military and rebel forces within the town.

Town folks said they were more comfortable without armed elements around as they could their farms, guide tourists and go about their ways without fear of being caught in gun battles like ambushes.