Abra NPA on Ligiw massacre

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(Hereunder is another letter, this time from Diego Wadagan,spokesperson of the Agustin Begnalen Command-New People’s Army-Abra on the massacre of the Ligiw family blaming army soldiers for the crime which the military  denied. This column is open to 41th Infantry Battalion officers or other concerned individuals who would like to  comment on the matter):  

After the Feb. 16, 2014 firefight in Lenneng, Baay-Licuan between the NPA Red Fighters and elements of the 41st IB, the fascist troops unleashed terrorism on the people of Barangay Lenneng, and nearby barangays of Baay-Licuan and Lacub.  illegal searches, interrogation and detention were conducted by the soldiers.

Among others, a particular incident took place on Feb. 22, 2014.   At about 1p.m. at SitioPatong, soldiers detained FerminLigiw, a small-scale miner and resident of SitioSucao, Barangay Dominglay, Baay-Licuan. 

He was illegally detained and interogated, and was forced to guide the soldiers towards Mt. Inuman.  He was held captive near their swidden farm, while others illegally searched Freddie Ligiw’snipa hut.  The said nipa hut is strategically situated near a cellsite between the towns of Lacub and Baay-Licuan, and is the usual route of operating troops.  The soldiers confiscated a shotgun commonly used by locals for hunting.  He was released at 8 p.m.

On March 3, Jessie Ligiw, a brother of Fermin, left his brothers and their father in their nipa hut.  On his way to SitioDominglay, he saw soldiers of the 41st IB approach the mountain ridge near their nipa hut.  Upon his return in afternoon of March 3, Jessie was shocked that their nipa hut was in disarray, his brothers and father were nowhere to be found and that farm tools particularly used for digging were also missing. 

On March 4, Jessie alerted the barrio folks of  Dominglay and nearby barangays about the absence of 3 members of the Ligiw family:  Fermin Ligiw, his elder brother Eddie, and their father Licoben.  On March 5, some of the barrio folks started searching for the missing Ligiws.  And on March 6 and 7, a full mobilization of the people of Dominglay and neighboring barangays was launched in search of the missing Ligiws, with local barangay and local government unit officials, people’s organizations and cause-oriented groups joining the search.

The people’s worst fear was confirmed in the afternoon of March 7, when what seems to be a recently dug gravesite was found.  The shallow grave was found at the other side of the mountain ridge, already within the municipal territory of Lacub town.  And on March 8, exhumation of the bodies in the said gravesite confirmed the brutal massacre of the three Ligiw family members.

The people immediately condemned the 41st IB for the cruel and terroristic murders.  There was no question among the majority of the people that the 41st IB was responsible of the dastardly acts.  Only officers and soldiers of the AFP, particularly those of the 41st IB, 503rd Brigade, are notorious for human rights violations, deeply ingrained in the people’s memory from brutal experiences in the 70’s to the early 90’s, and again since 2003 to the present.

It is utterly stupid for 41st IB propagandists to claim that the NPA is responsible for the massacre.  There is no reason at all for the NPA to do such an evil act.  In fact, Fermin Ligiw was a former NPA, who was recently asking for readmission to the NPA. 

The 41st IB might have suspected this and had this flimsy basis for the brutal and senseless killing of the 3 Ligiw family members.  It is doubly foolish for the 41st Infantry Batallion, led by Lt. Col. Domingo, to specifically accuse one ot the NPA’s as the perpetrator, as the said comrade is a cousin of Licoben Ligiw.

The officers and soldiers of the 41st IB responsible for the massacre should be punished! 

The people are fed up with the AFP’s deceit and human rights violations.   They should launch sustained protest actions and evict AFP troops and para-military groups in their communities and tribal territories.  Tinggians and Ilocanos of Abra should unite and forge unity against fascism and militarization, against large-scale mining, and in furtherance of agrarian revolution.  Indemnification for the families and punishment for the human rights violators should be pursued through various means and venues.

We challenge the barangay and LGU officials to heed their constituents’ demands and fight for their aspiration to have peaceful communities free from the AFP’s atrocious presence, and based on social justice.  We challenge the church leaders, especially the members of the Church-Military Advisory Group (CMAG) to protect their flock, dissociate themselves from the fascist murderers, and take the side of the people.

We commit revolutionary justice for the Ligiw family, and other victims of human rights violations.   The brutal murders shall be avenged.

We pay our highest tribute to the Ligiw family, especially to Fermin, for selfless revolutionary service and sacrifice.  Their martyrdom is an inspiration to the revolutionary movement, and their deaths will fan the flame of revolutionary struggle.

Long live the shining memory of the Ligiw family!

Justice for the Baay-Licuan massacre victims!

Punish the 41st Infantry Battalion!