‘Igorot’ airs sentiment on ambush of cops in Tadian

 BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(Rex Obag who calls himself a “full-blooded Igorot” writes his thoughts in this column on the June 28 ambush of 95 policemen by the New People’s Army in Tadian, Mountain Province wherein one died while nine others were wounded.) 

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I just want to express my sentiment regarding the ambush of police officers by the New Peoples Army in Tadian, Mt. Province. I am a pure blooded Igorot and a peace loving citizen.

Peace means the condition that exist when groups are not fighting, or the ending of state of war, friendly relations between individuals, untroubled by disputes and freedom from worries, troubles, and fears. This is according to the Webster dictionary.

Questions were raised on my mind upon hearing the incident that happened in Tadian so I asked myself “when will this conflict ends?” Being an Igorot, if one of our “kailyan” dies whether he/she is a member of the NPA, PNP, or AFP it pains us because he is our “kailyan”. Last month, one of the slain NPA in Aguinaldo, Ifugao was Artus “Kalibre” Talastas our “kailyan” from Barlig and Natonin, Mt. Province.

Now another “kailyan” from Sagada who is a member of the PNP was killed by comrades of ArtusTalastas. This is not new to us, it is very clear that there is a revolution happening in our country. The question that came into my mind is that, Why is it that there is a revolution?

I keep on realizing the issues of society to come up with a concrete answers to my own questions. Until I figured out that in deed there are so many issues confronting the whole populace. One is poverty and thelack of basic social services by the government. We keep on paying our taxes,

Value added tax and Expanded value added tax, but still we are poor and we do not achieve education and health rights without paying much.  I think all of us believe that graft and corruption is a persistent issue here in the country that worsens poverty.

Our environment is being destroyed by mining, dams, logging, geothermal and hydro which is owned by foreign capitalists and local ruling elite, aside from that the workers received low salary from this.

Another is the unstoppable increase of commodities due to oil price hike. Anti social activities like gambling, rape, pre-marital sex, drugs, alcohols, cigarettes, are also an issue in our society. Killings and abduction of civilian, activists, environmentalist and human rights advocates, by the AFP/PNP were not given justice.

Basically all of these issues do not mean peace to me because it is very clear in the definition of peace that there should be freedom from worries, troubles, fears, etc. How can parents and students stop worrying when there is an annual tuition and other fee increase and decreasing state subsidy for education?

How can the farmers and hunters stop their fears in doing their daily activity when military suspects them of being an NPA? How can the workers stop complaining because of unfair labour practices which includes low salary while the foreign capitalists and ruling elites receives much from worker’s sweat and blood?

How can the indigenous peoples live a normal life when their land, life, and resources are being threatened by the government style for foreign investments? How can we become a developed country if the US and other first world country take charge of our government? These are issues which need to be addressed especially by the government.

Because what for is this government when it cannot solve the issues of its constituents. Genuine peace will be possible if we will start to help one another to seriously lobby all of these issues to our government and start fixing ourselves by remembering and practicing the good culture which our ancestors have thought to us all throughout the history.

Let us struggle if the government will not address it. Let us challenge also both the GRP and NDF to go back to the table and talk to address the root causes of arm conflict and how to address the issues of the people. Peaceful means of ending violence is good when the government does not point guns to the people when they are raising issues or commenting government’s anti-people programs,

The AFP and PNP should be open to listen to the people’s call to end foreign domination, graft and corruption and land grabbing by the state in our territory. They should help the people to fight the rotten system of the government and not to be used by anti-people programs.

If these things will be addressed in a peaceful means then indeed arm revolution will end too. But if the government continues to be deaf to people’s issues and calls then I, myself will join the armed revolution! Peace!