CPA STRONGLY CONDEMNS ANOTHER EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLING IN THE CORDILLERA

Before the Eighth SONA of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, another indigenous person was summarily executed in Kalinga province. The Cordillera Peoples Alliance strongly condemns the brutal killing of Rocky "Ungki" Aboli, 44, of Duya-as, Upper Uma, Lubuagan, Kalinga by elements of the 21st and 77th Infantry Battalions last July 20, 2008. Aboli is a councilman of Upper Uma barangay and a member of the Duya-as Timpuyog Organization (DTO). The DTO is a member of CPA Kalinga's provincial peasant formation, the Timpuyog dagiti Mannalon iti Kalinga (TMK). Aboli is married, a father of three young children and a member of the Uma tribe.

Immediately, we demand justice for this indigenous farmer-hunter summarily executed by the military and so unjustly accused as an NPA. We also condemn the AFP's malicious branding and tagging of innocent civilians as NPAs to give excuse to the extrajudicial killings it commits against Cordillera indigenous peoples. This is military terrorism of the AFP and Arroyo regime.

Account of Incident
Testimonies from the victim's family state that Aboli headed to their kaingin in Mount Bulos around 9 AM on July 20 to hunt for wild animals that feed on the crops in the swidden farm. Later in the afternoon at around 4 PM, shots were heard from the kaingin. Knowing that Aboli was still there, his kin sent five youths to check on him. Going up, some 32 soldiers met the youths and did not allow them to go any further up the mountain, specifically to where Aboli had gone. The soldiers, mostly wearing bonnets to cover their faces and bearing no name plates, told the youths to go back to the village because Aboli is still alive ("Saan kayo nga agdanag ta sibibiag pay ti tao isunga agsubli kayo iti baryo").

The following day at 5.30 AM, more of Aboli's kailian (villagemates) headed to Mount Bulos to look for him. They arrived in an hour at the exact place of Aboli's kaingin and were met again by the soldiers who still refused to surface him. By 8 AM, the barangay captains of Upper Uma and Western Uma, Wildy Wansi and Angelito Anton dialogued with a representative of the Army and found out that soldiers shot Aboli. The barangay captains pressed for more details until the Army representative admitted that Aboli was dead ("patay na"). Aboli was found to have been shot at the back. The bullet exited through the lower part of his right breast. His remains were found 30 meters from his kalapaw (hut). Wansi and Anton produced documents proving that Aboli was a resident of Duya-as and that he was an elected councilman, and not an NPA. The soldiers still refused to turnover Aboli's remains to his kailian. A 12-member investigation team headed by Captain Ammiyao from the Lubugan PNP arrived at 11 AM. However, only one policeman, Roger Alngag, proceeded to the exact location of the incident allegedly due to the steep climb. It was only after this that Aboli's remains were allowed to be taken home.

We are angered at this cowardly denial of the AFP! We strongly condemn it for having the face to commit one injustice after another, when it killed Aboli and still refused to surface him to his kin and tribesmates.

Increasing killings of Cordillera IPs under GMA regime
The extrajudicial killing of indigenous farmer-hunters in the Cordillera by the AFP has been rampant under the Arroyo regime-from Johnny Camareg in 2001, Mt. Province (killed by elements of the 22nd Special Forces Company, 3rd Special Forces Battalion), Etfew Chadyaas in 2003, Mt. Province (killed by elements of the 54th IB under Lt. Sia-ed), Victor Balais in Pinukpuk, Kalinga (slain by elements 77th IB), Bernabe Bangguey (slain by elements 41st IB) and Gavino Lawagey (Abra) all in 2005-all accused to be members of the New People's Army. What the State, specifically the Army, refuses to understand as to indigenous culture is that hunting is practiced for survival, and having arms for this basic right to survival is just and legitimate. Hunting supplements indigenous communities' food source at this time of severe economic crisis. Until these are recognized and respected, the AFP will continue to commit genocide in the Cordillera.

Extrajudicial killings of indigenous peoples number over 30 in the Cordillera region alone. The killings are part of the Arroyo regime's Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL). It is the same state policy of political killings that killed Markus Bangit, whose second death anniversary last June 8 passed without any justice delivered, and Alyce Claver, whom we remember on her second death anniversary in July 31. They were both from Kalinga. They were both killed in cold blood, infront of a member or members of their family. They were both committed leaders of the CPA.

Aboli's killers must be immediately sanctioned so that justice will truly be given to his kin and tribe. No amount of amicable settlement, which the military so often resorts to in settling their atrocities, is ever enough. The AFP must be held accountable. We call for the immediate pullout of the 21st and 77th Infantry Battalions in Kalinga province, and that the commanding officers be made accountable to the human rights violations committed by their men. It is such a shame that the people pay the AFP, of which the latter should serve and protect. Yet the AFP is the first to unjustly accuse and kill innocent civilians! This situation only pushes the people to rise up in arms and protect themselves before being killed like sitting ducks. This situation is enough ground for indigenous peoples to defend themselves against the bloodthirsty and terrorist AFP, as people have the right to arm themselves in extreme and revolting cases as this!

The 21st and 77th IBs must pay for this cowardly act of military terrorism in Kalinga. The commanding officers must be punished, face the bar of justice and justice must be exacted! The victim's family and tribe must be indemnified and there should be no cover up, as in the cases of the hunter-farmers slain earlier.

We call on the people of Kalinga in their militant and brave tradition to rise up, unite and overcome tribal differences against this common enemy that has executed their kailyan, and that this must not happen again.

Our appeal to Igorot soldiers: isakit ti kailian yo, as we urge the people to defend themselves, their lives against this fascist and militarist regime before another case such as Aboli's will happen. We call on all people respecting the sanctity of life to rise and condemn this murderous act of the military and the regime. We must struggle for a society where justice prevails and government and its armed force truly protect and serve civilians and indigenous peoples.

GMA being the commander in chief of the AFP is highly accountable to all these killings especially at a nationwide scale. Prolonging her stay in Malacañang would only mean graver human rights violations, and greater injustice to indigenous peoples, thus we reiterate our call for GMA's ouster. #

Reference:
Xavier Akien
Vice Chairperson, CPA