Congress probes AFP bombings in Kalinga, NL rights violations

CONGRESS is set to investigate bombing by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Kalinga and human rights violations in North Luzon.
    Congressmen Allen Jesse C. Mangaoang of Kalinga, Maximo Dalog Jr. of Mountain Province and Kabataan Partylist Raoul Manuel were set to file a House resolution to his effect.  
    This, after North Luzon cause oriented and human rights groups, embarked on a campaign dubbing it “Defend the North” by trooping to the House of Representatives to gain support for campaign also resulted in several positive developments, said Beverly L. Longid, Katribu national convenor.
    The delegation met with Rep. Mangaoang, chairman of the House committee on indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples committee; Mt. Province District Rep. Dalog Jr.; Manila District Rep. and chair of the House committee on human rights Benny Abante Jr.; Kabataan Partylist Rep. Manuel and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro. 
    Alongside raising human rights violation, the delegation also discussed the ongoing Gened dam project in Kabugao, Apayao, said a Katribu press statement. 
    Rep. Manuel delivered a privileged speech in which he challenged his fellow lawmakers to take action on the cases of the North.
    He urged stop to attacks, harassment and filing of false charges against citizens of Northern Luzon.
    The military reportedly bombed the hometown of Rep. Mangaong in Balbalan, Kalinga and even took into custody nine farmers, accusing them of being communist supporters.

The delegation of activists and human rights defenders came from Cordillera, Cagayan Valley and Ilocos regions and rallied to the National Capital Region March 20-21, the statement added.

The delegation reportedly aimed to engage government agencies, officials, and civil society in activities to bring light to continuous attacks on communities and human rights defenders nationwide.

They held a symbolic action and dialogue with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), lobbied at the House of Representatives, and organized a forum at the University of the Philippines-Diliman to give attention and solicit urgent responses to the intensifying human rights violations in Northern Luzon. Alongside these activities, the contingent also honor Northern Luzon heroes inscribed on the walls of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

The dialogue with the CHR proved fruitful, with representatives from national minority and peasant organizations in the NCR joining in solidarity with the pleas and demands of the delegations.

Highlighted in the dialogue were the recent community bombings by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the barangays and municipalities in Cagayan and Kalinga provinces in recent months.

The CHR committed independent investigations of these bombing incidents, red-tagging and terrorist labeling of people’s organizations and trumped-up charges of the Northern Luzon 7 (activists who were filed “trumped up” charges by the Armed Forces of the Philippines).

The delegation also followed up on unresolved cases they raised recently such as the attempted assassination of Brandon Lee and the abduction of Steve Tauli.

 “Katribu supports the Defend the North campaign. We encourage all peace-loving citizens to stand in solidarity with them as well. The trooping of the delegation from the different regions is a first of a series of activities calling for judicial and legislative reforms to protect activists and human rights workers. The struggle continues for us human rights defenders to resound the calls and demands of Northern Luzon and to hold the perpetrators accountable,” Katribu said.