Mt Province folks hit AFP, PNP men for ‘rights abuses’

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Military and police officers were urged to respect human rights and cultural practices of residents of militarized areas of Dandanak, Besao and Aguid, Sagada as more abuses surfaced during a forum with government and affected folks here recently.

Affected folks told members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police during a dialogue Aug. 16 in this capital town they were affected by abuses of lawmen.

The forum was initiated by the Commission on Human Rights so indigenous peoples could come up with resolutions or petitions so proposed laws like ordinances could be crafted and forwarded to those concerned, said legal officer Lyndon Morales of the CHR.

Former Tamboan barangay chairman and current barangay kagawad Osias Degyawi from sitio Dandanac of Tamboan, Besao told the AFP representatives there two ordinances forwarded by the barangay council banning presence of both armed groups from their area referring to the Philippine Army and New People’s Army (NPA).but these are being violated, he said.   

Degyawi seconded by current Tamboan barangay chairman Emerson Mangallay said it was best that AFP  leave Dandanac as Degyawi recalled the harsh memories of the 1980s and 1990s when Dandanac was heavily militarized.

“Let us give to the people their mandate to resolve their issues, to identify their problem and where to seek help, what offices to go to including CHR,”  Besao Mayor Johnson Bantog said on issues surrounding the military presence in Dandanak.

Dandanac is adjacent to Tubo, Abra and a common pathway of residents from Tamboan and Tubo including elements of the NPA and AFP who go in and out of the two adjacent areas.

In response, Brigadier General Henry Robinson of the 502 Brigade of the AFP said the AFP is the legitimate security force of the State and can enter any part of the Philippines in pursuance of their duty.

At this juncture, Saclit, Sadanga barangay chairman Christopher Pallar said Besao may learn from the experience of Saclit where the people of Saclit told both AFP and the NPA to move out from their place.

Sagada mayor James Pooten also said that people of Sagada declared their municipality as a peace zone and does not allow the presence of armed groups- both the AFP and the NPA- in the community.

During the course of the dialogue, Mering Dazon of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance  forwarded alleged violation of  human rights on  two resident -farmer of  Dandanac- Edmund Dazon and Satur Dazon  who were accused of illegal possession of firearms and multiple murder by elements of the 81st Infantry Battalion stationed at Dandanac.

Morales said alleged abuses will be forwarded to CHR after complaints have been reported to concerned barangay and local police; including the filing of the necessary charges by the aggrieved and CHR against human rights violators.

Other complaints emerged wherein elements from the 81st IB reportedly encamped in houses of residents in Dandanak without h latter’s consent.  It was cited during the forum that Executive Order 27 was issued by Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan that “soldiers are not allowed to establish camps or temporary dwellings near residential areas, specially plazas, barangay halls, churches, schools and areas where people usually mingle together.”

The above EO was pursuance to Republic Act 7610 which provides that “public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and rural health units shall not be utilized for military purposes such as command posts, barracks, detachments, and supply depots.”

Forum members said house owners’ consent was primary before any occupation is done and for humanitarian in situations, soldiers needing shelter to rest in times of disasters such as typhoons may be allowed.

Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) is a right of indigenous peoples as provided in the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act in project or activity introduced in their communities.

In the same development, Samuel Anongos of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance said cultural practices be respected including “tengaw” or rest day wherein a ritual is made and people are not allowed to enter to leave the community for some days in observance of good harvest or cleansing of a community.

Coverage of “tengaw” prohibition includes the AFP.

In response, Gen. Robinson said the AFP shall enter the community where there are sighting of NPA elements though there is an ongoing ritual in furtherance to their duties.

Robinson said local police shall also do regular anti -insurgency operations.    

The 81st IB is currently deployed in Dandanac with military men alternately going in and out from the area to the mountains of Dandanac and adjacent Tubo of Abra.

Dazon said indigenous peoples rights to their ancestral domain including farming should be respected by the military.

Dandanac were folks were scared to harvest their matured rice crops during the harvest month of July after the NPA-AFP encounter on July.  R

Rice harvest resulted to only half taken with the rest gone to birds, dried up or dropped down to the ground and sprouted.

It was on the second week of August when farmers were able to harvest their rice crops after a safe conduct pass was issued to residents for them to tend to their farms August 6.

In Aguid , Sagada, Veron Malicdan from Aguid and a CPA staff  presented two  cases of alleged human rights violations where two resident-farmers of Aguid -  David Suyon and Ruel Wailan- were made to sign papers given to them against their will.  

In their affidavit, they denied they were members of the NPA as contained in the oath of surrender  which they were forced to utter, but did not, at the barangay gym last August 4.

This was  in time with a dental mission and peace rally sponsored by the 54rth IB stationed in Aguid which also coincided with the  marriage celebration of a couple held near the gym at Aguid.  

Resident Lilian Briones of Fidelisan Sagada also said that army elements of the 54th IB went to Fidelisan telling three women that they go to Aguid Elementary School to clear their names as NPA supporters.

She said however that she did not go.

PNP provincial director Allen Ocden said he shall file the necessary charges against erring cops and members of PNP and AFP involved in alleged incidents of HR violations if these were true.

The PNP and the AFP representatives said they  have their respective HR offices and functions as presented  by PCI Crispen Banez, chief of the  HRAO of PRO-Cordillera and Brig Gen Boyet Imbang Jr of the 503rd Brigade of the AFP.

The CHR during said dialogue urged the creation of HR action teams per municipality.  

Ocden said municipal mayors are the chief executive officers who shall maintain peace and order in their respective communities where the municipal chief of police derives his authority.

He said barangay officials  have duties to effect  peace and order before issues are brought to the municipal level.  

The PNP director said there are already peace and order groups and committees including Sangguniang Bayan peace and order committee, Barangay peace and order action teams and the municipal peace and order councils can serve as HR action teams.

Bontoc Womens Brigade leader Winnie Ananayo said peace efforts should be exhausted between the two warring groups.   

In the same occasion Roda Dalang of the Cordillera Development Program forwarded a statement of the CDP calling for the pullout of all AFP troops in the Cordillera.