BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon
Branding of Cordillera IP leaders as ‘terrorists’
(I would
like to share this statement by KATRIBU (Kalipunan ang Katutubong Mamamayan ng
Pilipinas) presented by Beverly K. Longid, Katribu national convenor on
arbitrary designation of Cordillera indigenous leaders as “terrorists.” The
statement was presented during the 16th session on “Expert mechanism on the
rights of indigenous peoples (EMRIP) held July 17-22 in Geneva, Switzerland
during a dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
the Chair of the UNPFII and the Board of Trustees of the UN Voluntary Fund for
Indigenous Peoples on UNDRIP implementation):
The
recent arbitrary designation of Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) leaders,
Sarah Abellon Alikes, Windel Balag-ey Bolinget, Steve Ambucay Tauli, and
Jennifer Awingan, as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) is an
alarming and unjustifiable act. This decision flagrantly undermines the
principles of justice and human rights while silencing the voices of Indigenous
Peoples fighting for their rights and self-determination.
Labeling
these Indigenous leaders as terrorists is an unfounded accusation aimed at
tarnishing their reputation and discrediting their legitimate struggles for
land, self-determination, and social justice.
This
sweeping and baseless categorization serves only to suppress dissent and
discourage the pursuit of justice and equality, putting their lives, families,
and organizations at grave risk.
The
charges leveled against Alikes, Bolinget, Awingan, and Tauli under the
provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act lack credibility. Instead of engaging in
meaningful dialogue and addressing the root causes of grievances, the
Philippine government chooses to employ repressive tactics, instilling fear and
stigmatizing those who advocate for the rights of marginalized communities.
This is
the latest of continuing attacks and red-tagging against the Cordillera Peoples
Alliance (CPA), its leaders, and members. In 2017, Abellon-Alikes was falsely
charged with arson and robbery, while Bolinget faced false murder charges in
2021, both of which were later dismissed by the trial court.
In 2018,
the Department of Justice (DOJ) initially included Bolinget and other CPA
leaders in its designation of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New
People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as terrorists, but their names were later removed.
In 2022,
Tauli was abducted by suspected state agents but was released the following
day, and in the same year, the CPA Secretary-General Bestang Dekdeken was
wrongfully convicted of cyberlibel. Earlier this year, five CPA leaders,
including Abellon-Alikes, Bolinget, Tauli, Awingan, and Lulu Gimenez, were
falsely accused of rebellion. However, the court also dismissed the case,
clearing their names of the baseless charges. Thus, we fear that this arbitrary
terrorist designation can lead to unlawful arrests or worse, extra-judicial
killings and enforced disappearances of CPA members and other activists.
The
Cordillera Peoples Alliance has long been at the forefront of promoting
indigenous rights and preserving the cultural heritage of the Cordillera
region. Their tireless efforts in safeguarding ancestral lands and protecting
indigenous communities from exploitation deserve recognition, not vilification.
We are Indigenous. We are not terrorists.
Furthermore,
the freezing of the bank accounts of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance by the
Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) obstructs the implementation of their
programs, including crucial social services. This denial of funds deprives
indigenous communities in the Cordillera of valuable resources for relief,
especially during times of disasters and calamities.
Therefore:
1. We
call on the EMRIP, UNPFII, and the SR on Indigenous Peoples Rights to urge
member states NOT to use anti-terrorism or national security laws to
criminalize Indigenous defenders and activists asserting their rights as
protected under international human rights and humanitarian laws.
2. We
appeal to the UN SR on Indigenous Peoples Rights to send an urgent
communication on this matter to raise serious concern on this unjust act and
call for its withdrawal; and urge the government to ensure their safety and
that their human rights are not further violated. We are concerned that the
arbitrary terrorist designation might lead to unlawful arrests, extra-judicial
killings, or enforced disappearances including their family and organizations.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon
Deaths / Beneco polls/ Loan sharks
BAGUIO CITY –
First, our condolences to the families of Dr. Morr Tadeo Pungayan, columnist of
the Baguio Midland Courier and Zeny Rulla. Pungayan was then writing his column
Ethnos Ibaloi when I was with the Courier in the 90s. Meanwhile, Rulla’s band
was then our alternate with my band The Strings at the Music Box in Baguio, the
biggest live pub in the city also that decade. Rulla died of bone cancer
Thursday. Her body lies in state at St. Peter’s funeral home along Marcos
Highway.
***
A
signature campaign was started this weekend by member-consumer-owners (MCOs) of
the Benguet Electric Cooperative and government officials who started a
signature drive as we go to press to compel the Beneco Interim Board of
Directors appointed by the National Electrification Administration, to schedule
elections to elect a new board of directors of the electric cooperative.
The La
Trinidad, Benguet Municipal Council also made a resolution urging the NEA and
Interim Board to set the elections. (See banner story in page 1 for more
details)
This,
following three annual general membership assemblies held in the towns of
Kapangan and Bokod in Benguet and Baguio City where MCOs complained the interim
board ruled out elections through interim board director lawyer George Dumawing
Jr. who only allowed two minutes each to those who wanted to speak on Beneco
issues like elections.
Dumawing
later told a press conference elections could be held depending on
circumstances. Until now, the IB is vague on the matter saying they would want
to install a general manager first before the elections.
MCOs are
saying the National Electrification Administration wants to install first a GM it
can control through the interim board so it can ensure its grip over Beneco
before holding elections.
The
interim board could issue a statement on the matter and have and this published
in newspapers and aired through other forms of media to clarify their position
so MCOs and power consumers would be informed.
MCOs are
saying it is but proper that they and other stakeholders are informed on what
the interim board is doing and what its intensions are. Transparency is the
word.
They are
saying it is them, after all, who are paying for the board’s salaries including
that of a former MCO leader whose position was created when she jumped to the
other side of the fence and is now a NEA drumbeater.
MCOs are
quiet now and biding their time that is why, they are pressing for elections.
But when
push comes to shove, it would be a matter of time when they will retake Beneco
from the grip of NEA if elections won’t be held. NEA administrator Antonio
Almeda told MCOs during the Baguio AGMA that they will “fix first problems” of
the Beneco before moving on to other ailing cooperatives, like it wasn’t them
who created the problem in the first place.
Everybody
knows that the Beneco had a Triple A classification before the NEA came in and
appointed a GM they later fired when MCOs resisted and retook Beneco, which
until now is considered the SWAT Team of electric cooperatives considering its
efficiency and good management.
It was
actually interim board chairman Steve Cating who told a press conference said
the audit done on Beneco particularly under Melchor Licoben’s term as GM was
very satisfactory. So why did the NEA not reinstall Licoben after suspending
him for six months?
It’s is
control of Beneco the NEA wants that is why they are pushing selection of a GM
before elections, according to MCOs.
The NEA
could also issue a statement on the matter and have this published considering
it is being alluded to. It won’t also be bad if the interim board, who are
Cordillerans, would also do some soul-searching on the proper course of action
regarding Beneco affairs. That won’t be a hard thing to do.
Folks of
Sagada have a term for that – inayan, a version of the Golden Rule which
generally means don’t do anything bad, do what is right.
***
A
legislator warned the public not to patronize online lending applications as
they do more damage than help people who need financial assistance.
Sen.
Sherwin Gatchalian, in an interview with radio station DZBB, said he had been
receiving complaints from borrowers who experienced harassment from loan sharks
on top of high-interest rates that range from 10 up to 40 percent.
Worst,
he added, lending firms were able to access and hack the personal data of
borrowers and their contacts.
“There
were reports that those who failed to pay are being threatened. Sometimes, they
received wreaths. They were able to monitor the daily activities of those
people who could not pay their loans. This is alarming and scary,” Gatchalian
said.
He said
the public should be cautious before entertaining the idea of getting loans
through online apps, a Philippine News Agency report said.
It is
highly suspicious if a lending agency could easily lend money, Gatchalian said.
“The first step if when a lender could lend easily. It means something is not
right. Don’t deal with them,” he said.
He
advised the public to check the legitimacy of lenders with the Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas (BSP) should they plan to make loans through an online app.
BSP, he
added, has a complete list of legitimate lending firms.
The
public could also seek the help of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Department of Information and Communications Technology, and National Privacy
Commission if they have issues with lending firms.
Gatchalian
said he would call for an investigation through the Senate’s committee on banks,
financial institutions and currencies regarding rising concerns against lending
apps and companies.
.BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon
The thrust for Cordillera autonomy
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The Cordillera “autonomy movement” marked another milestone this month of July as the region celebrates the 36th year anniversary of creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
The 1986 Constitution stipulated establishment of two autonomous regions in the country; Muslim Mindanao and Cordillera. Two plebiscites (1990 and 1998) were conducted in Cordillera to legalize the autonomous status of the region but majority of voters rejected autonomy.
The region’s status is currently administrative even as the Cordillera Regional Development Council, which is composed of top officials of the region are pushing autonomy. The National Economic Development Authority Cordillera headed by regional director Susan A. Sumbeling is secretariat.
Records say during the Spanish colonial era, the Spaniards referred to inhabitants of the Cordillera as Ygorrottes or Igorots. The Americans starting 1908 have governed the area as part of a single locality called Mountain Province.
History books say people from outside the region, or lowlanders as they were known in the Cordillera, often referred to all ethnic people in the area under the single label, Igorot. Nowadays, constituents of the region are called Cordillerans even if they are not Igorots.
Unlike the people in the southern Philippines, the Moro who organized themselves in large polities such as sultanates, the Cordilleran people had independent tribes governed by tribal councils.
These are now among the facts being used to argue for a Cordillera identity.
There is a movement for self-determination among people of the Cordillera, the Cordillera People’s Alliance for one. But so far, there are no groups openly advocating “independence” of Cordillera from the Philippines.
Political analysts say the armed Cordillera struggle was derived from the communist rebellion in the Philippines during the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos.
They say the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army's goal was to overthrow Marcos, fight against imperialism of the United States, after which they planned to establish a people's democratic republic.
The affiliate of the National Democratic Front, the Cordillera People's Democratic Front aimed for the "liberation" of the country along with the Cordilleras from these twin challenges according to its 1981 eight-point general program.
The Cordillera People’s Liberation Army, then headed by the late Catholic priest Conrado Balweg which separated from the NPA in 1986, and Cordillera Bodong Administration fought for what they called greater autonomy in the Cordillera and against what they perceived as internal colonialism by the Philippine central government.
The CPLA advocated utilization and stewardship of lands by communes as opposed to private proprietorship and direct democracy through village assemblies and council of elders.
It also promoted the bodong system as a "supra-tribal expression" of the "spirit of social cooperation". They also proposed the conversion of the country into a federal republic as an alternative with each state having co-equal status.
On Sept. 13, 1986 the CPLA and the Government of the Philippines made a "sipat" or cessation of hostilities in Mt. Data Hotel, in Bauko, Mountain Province. The agreement between the two entities, dubbed 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord, was signed by then President Corazon Aquino as President of the Republic of the Philippines. The agreement created the Cordillera Administrative Region as temporary status to prepare the region for autonomy. This considering the 1987 Philippine Constitution stipulated autonomy for the Cordillera Region.
Several attempts at legalizing autonomy in the Cordillera region have failed in two separate plebiscites. An affirmative vote for the law on regional autonomy is a precondition by the 1987 Philippine Constitution to give the region autonomy in self-governance much like the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in southern Philippines. The first law, Republic Act No. 6766, took effect on October 23, 1989, but failed to muster a majority vote in the plebiscite on January 30, 1990. The second law, Republic Act No. 8438 passed by Congress of the Philippines on December 22, 1997, also failed to pass the approval of Cordillera people in a region-wide referendum on March 7, 1998. Political analysts have stated that people’s lack of understanding of the autonomy issue, compounded by misinformation drives by some sectors, was the primary factor against Cordillera autonomy.
A closure agreement between the CPLA and the Government of the Philippines was signed on July 4, 2011 at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace.
The agreement called for disarmament of the group, reintegration of the militants into mainstream society and the conversion of the militant group into a socio-economic organization.
While the group has stopped armed confrontation, the CPLA remain extant as of 2013 still campaigning for greater autonomy in the Cordillera.
There are efforts to make a third bid to legalize autonomy in the Cordillera. Bills to establish an Organic Act for an autonomous region in Cordillera include House Bill No. 5595 filed during the 15th Congress and House Bill No. 4649 filed during the 16th Congress, both of which failed to pass. In the 17th Congress, House Bill No. 5343, "An Act Establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera (ARC)" was filed on March 20, 2017 during its first regular session and was supported by all House representatives from Cordillera. It was also the first time in history that all provincial and city governments throughout the Cordillera supported Cordillera autonomy. There has also been a campaign to include Nueva Vizcaya into the Cordillera as the province is culturally and geographically situated near the Cordillera, but so far this was not pushed. Currently, there are three pending Cordillera autonomy bills in the 18th Congress, House Bill No. 5687 filed by all Cordillera Congressmen, Senate Bill No. 1232 filed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Bill No. 7778 filed by Benguet legislative caretaker Eric Yap of ACT-CIS Partylist. The move to attain autonomy for the region will be determined the coming years. If the two Organic Acts were not ratified by the people, there may be need for more consultations and information dissemination among Cordillera constituents on what they really want.
For one, a former Cordillera Congressman said the Cordillera is better off under its present administrative status as larger amounts of money is allotted from the national government to the region.
This, while the militant ones say Cordillera autonomy cannot be attained unless a genuine nationalist government is installed.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon
Tarps and traditions: Thoughts on Cordillera autonomy
(I would like to share this article by MB Batil Maravilla, a bank lawyer and an aspiring farmer. He considers himself an Ibaloi in diaspora and is currently seeking ways to reconnect with his homeland):
I fear that our distinct political culture and practices are in danger of erosion
Living in Metro Manila, I grew up in a scenery of sidewalks marked with the initials of our mayor, of hanging tarpaulin greetings of “Merry Christmas,” “Congratulations Graduates” and the newly created “Happy Halloween” from our councilors, and the good-for-scrap metal barangay multi-cabs given by our congressman.
This scenery is very much different from the one we have in my mother’s hometown in Tublay, Benguet, and the majority of the Cordillera.
There are no tarpaulins or initials of our mayor on the sidewalks. Political dynasties are not prevalent and elections are generally peaceful events. In fact, one of the earliest memories of Cordillera elections I had when I was young involved seeing a political rally where rival candidates took turns speaking and, at the end of it, ate together with rest of the community. What was more admirable was that both candidates shared in the expenses for the said rally.
I’ve always wondered why there’s such a stark difference in political culture in the Cordilleras. Why are political dynasties rare in most of the Cordilleras and there are minimal cases of election-related violence?
Based on what I have learned, I now believe that Cordillera’s distinct political culture is one of the unforeseen consequences of our ancestors’ resistance to Spanish colonization.
Unknown to our ancestors at the time, their resistance to Spanish colonization spared us Cordillerans from extractive colonial institutions put in place in other parts of the country such as the encomienda system (forced labor and tribute), reduccion, and the most devastating of all, the takeover of agricultural lands by the Spanish. These institutions were created to ensure that political and economic power were maintained at the hands of the Spanish and the local elites loyal to them.
The forced takeover of agricultural land was most devastating because other than cursing our fellow Filipinos to generational poverty, this also allowed the creation of a local landed elite commonly known as “landlords.”
Once our country gained independence, the then-existing landlords took advantage of their economic position to take over the political vacuum left by the Spanish and inaugurated the current system of political dynasties prevalent in the country.
Collective ownership
Thus, while most of the farmers in the country prior to agrarian reform law were tenants or agricultural workers to landlords, the resistance of our ancestors allowed Igorots to maintain the collective ownership of their communal lands as well as individual plots of their own.
More importantly, by preventing the taking of their agricultural lands, the Igorots prevented the creation of local landlords and, in turn, political dynasties in the Cordillera.
This also allowed the Cordillerans to maintain their grassroots pluralistic institutions such as the higher council or the “intugtukan.” The effect of these institutional differences can also be observed during the conduct of elections.
Other than enriching their members at the expense of their fellow Filipinos, there is also a direct connection between the growth of political dynasties and the rise in political violence and illegal practices during elections.
As political dynasties’ monopoly on political and economic power grows, so does their fear of losing such power. Their fear of losing power leads them to utilize violent and illegal means to ensure their stay. Such monopoly also gave them the resources necessary to use violent and illegal means such as vote-buying during their political campaigns as can be seen in majority of the parts of the country long held by political dynasties.
On the other hand, elections in majority of the Cordillera are generally peaceful events. In fact, the police and the Commission on Elections want to make a pilot study on Benguet and Mountain Province because of their peaceful and orderly elections. Other than the lack of political dynasties, Igorot practices such as the “Inayan” and respect for community elders help preserve the observance of peace during elections.
Danger of erosion
Unfortunately, I fear that our distinct political culture and practices are in danger of erosion, unless, we are educated of its importance as well the dangers of political dynasties and of supporting politicians that employ illegal election practices.
The growing strength of existing and new political dynasties at the national and local levels could someday overwhelm and penetrate Cordilleran political culture. I also fear the effects of assimilation into other regions, such as what existed during the Martial Law years. Such assimilation allowed the entry of dynastic politics and practices that started the wave of political violence in other areas of the Cordillera.
Dynastic politics or the concentration of political power in a few and selected elite coming from a single family or relatives runs contrary to the Cordillerans’ political culture, history, and value for freedom.
Unfortunately, despite its central character in the lives of the Cordillerans, this is rarely cited during discussions on Cordillera autonomy.
This has to change. Otherwise, we should prepare ourselves to the possibility of seeing our beloved Cordillera to be just another Metropolis filled with the same tarpaulins hanging on pine trees instead of electric posts.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon
Elections only way to solve Beneco mess/ ACT on SONA
(Here is a commentary of Dane Ducayag, president of MCCOs on the Benguet Electric Cooperative controversy):
BAGUIO CITY -- Some people are doing we don't know what in Beneco. We shouldn’t stop questioning until we get answers. The truth is, all this talk about transparency, accountability, and good governance by the people responsible for the soft takeover of Beneco last January is a sham.
Walk the walk before you talk the talk. The Task Force Beneco is an example of what it shouldn't be. For one, they are detached from MCOs, who are the foundation of any cooperative. Board of Directors appointed by politicians and/or regulatory agencies would more likely be serving their own interests and those who appointed them.
How were they chosen anyway but for their connection to someone. Not even for their knowledge of electric utility operations nor were they part of the struggles of Beneco the past couple of years.
Were two of them even MCOs before they were appointed? Cutting off members with opposing views and questions, declaring them "out of order", not acknowledging them, giving them very limited time to express themselves, or giving evasive answers during a General Assembly reeks of bad governance.
Ostracizing key members/owners and/or barring them from participating in activities even especially in the conduct of Information and Education drives, witnessing milestones and achievements of the cooperative, non-sponsorship of representing the members in regional or national cooperative membership organizations/federations, depriving them from inspecting and acquiring copies of documents pertinent to the organization like board resolutions or board minutes by demanding tiresome requirements, not acknowledging their importance in connecting and keeping good relations as well as in checks and balances, refusing dialogues with them, reeks of bad governance.
Calling for the immediate elections for a Beneco Board of Directors representative of the MCOs of Baguio-Benguet. Directors who are accountable to the membership and more responsive to our interests, concerns and needs.
Further encouraging civic organizations and LGUs in Baguio-Benguet to support this call with resolutions or statements of their own. Submit to Beneco cc to National Electrification Administration.
Let us not lose our democratic member control over Beneco.
Paging the Department of Energy and Senators Risa Hontiveros, Win Gatchalian and Raffy Tulfo ***
(Here is another letter, this time from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on the State of the Nation Address 9SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.):
More than a year towards the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the Marcos, Jr. administration that promised better conditions for teachers, yet Filipino teachers including those in the Cordillera remain underpaid, overworked and under-supported.
Eighty seven percent of Baguio teachers and 91% of Cordillera public school teachers, as per the present Salary Standardization Law (SSLV) fall below poverty line of PhP34,350/month (IBON Foundation, 2023). Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview, which collected Baguio teachers’ salary figures submitted anonymously, computed a very low P12k/mo. average salary for basic education teachers and P22k/mo. for college instructors.
Moreover, the real values of these salaries have gone down with an inflation rate of 7.9% from Jan. – April, 2023. Minus the taxes and contributions, teachers’ salaries have shrunk significantly with a Teacher 1 take home pay falling to only P23,465.30.
Teachers’ recent benefits have also been delayed. The rice allowance promised for end 2022 was given second quarter this year to teachers nationwide.
Here in the Cordillera, they received their share only last week of June to first week of July and reports from Kalinga even noted brown powdery rice not fit for human consumption. Also, only a few regions have gotten their Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for 2021 still. CAR is one of those regions whose PBB has not yet been released.
Like all teachers nationwide, Cordillera teachers are drowning in a lot of teaching-related work, paper work, and appended duties. For many teachers, this situation is leading to stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression on top of students asking for help with mental health struggles. Only here in Baguio City, suicide cases among the youth have risen to 60% during the pandemic period.
Yet, support for teachers’ hard work remains lip-service. Necessary facilities and supplies for advancing teaching modalities are lacking. A case in point in the region is that only 1,228 laptops were provided in 2021, yet there are @17,000 DepEd teachers. These are even part of the controversial overpriced and outdated supply issued by DepEd that are being investigated on.
Amidst red-tagging, Cordillera teachers must unite with all teachers nationwide to demand and fight for what is due us and our students.
50K entry level pay for teachers now!
33K for Salary Grade 1 Now!
Increase Education Budget!
Increase salaries and benefits
No to red-tagging!
Alliance of Concerned Teachers
Cordillera
