Historical landmark built to honor WW2 Abra guerillas

LICUAN-BAAY, Abra -- Tinguian elders led by the Abra Confederation of Tingguian Organizations (ACTO) and the local government unit here recently held ground-breaking ceremony for construction of a historical landmark at Mt. Lamunan in Barangay Subagan this town.

ACTO President, lawyer Isidro Espiritu said this project gives credit to the Abrañean guerilla forces who fought Japanese Forces during World War II.

‘It is but fitting and appropriate to appreciate and relive the heroism of our ancestors who fought for the freedom of our land from foreign invasion,’ Espirito said.

 Mt. Lamunan is famous as  “Lamunan ambush site.” It is located in the tri-boundary of the municipalities of Daguioman, Malibcong and Licuan-Baay in Abra and Balbalan of Kalinga.

Result of the research conducted earlier by the faculty and students of the Abra State Institute of Science and Technology led by Dr. Elsa D. Baguioan proved the validity of the claim by the local folk of the ambush and killing of many Japanese soldiers done by the Abrañean guerillas led by a popular American soldier named Cosing.

 The late Lunes Colet of Baay, a member of the USAPHIL Guerilla Forces, had earlier attested to the truthfulness of the said combat operation.

While the site is located in a tri-boundary, Licuan-Baay mayor Alejo Domingo provided support to ACTO that conceptualized and proposed said project.

This was a collaborative effort of various national agencies such as the National Historical Commission, the National Commission for Culture and Arts, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, House of Representatives, National Commission for Indigenous Peoples and Philippine Information Agency that served as the event organizer and documenter.

This was also supported by the LGUs of Daguioman, Malibcong and Licuan-Baay of Abra and Balbalan of Kalinga, and the Province of Abra. –PIA Abra