THAT THE MOUNTAINS MAY CHANT THE TRUTH

(A Cordillera Statement Calling for a Stop to Extrajudicial Killings)

Once more, bullets silenced another small voice.

The ambush of the family of Dr. Constancio "Chandu" Claver, in the morning of July 31, 2006 near the Police Headquarters in Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga is repugnant. Chandu, the "people's doctor" was seriously wounded, and Alice, his wife was killed, and their daughter is traumatized. Such atrocity has never been so real in the Cordillera until these recent months.

We, in the Cordillera have always cherished freedom and held it as essential to full humanity. This unflinching belief has helped us maintain our dignity all these years of government neglect, social marginalization, political isolation and economic deprivation. We fought for it.

We take pride in the fact that it shaped the ethos that binds the indigenous people of the Cordillera and links them with other indigenous peoples here and abroad. The ambush of the Clavers and of Marcus Bangit before them is alien to the culture of the people in the Cordillera.

We condemn the ambush of Dr. Claver's family. The assault of unarmed civilians in public places is a manifestation of a rotten social order. It can only be motivated by a desire to perpetuate fear, subservience and maintain a state of repression.

The killings are deliberate and systematic, planned and executed only by those who have the means and capacity to undertake such atrocity with impunity and sophistication.

We believe that peace and justice is possible if the reasons for dissent and civil unrest are sincerely heard and addressed by those who hold power. At the core of democracy is a government that submits to the processes so painstakingly instituted to protect and ensure the welfare and interest of the majority of the citizens over and above all else.

We deplore the killing of people simply because of their political beliefs. This horrendous decimation of perceived "leftists" sends a chilling message that democracy is interpreted only by those who wield power. People in the Cordillera have demonstrated in the past that we cannot be cowed by any power to speak peace and surrender our freedom.

Wherefore, we now stand firmly united and demand that Government muster the political will and sincerity to put an immediate stop to these killings, find the perpetrators and mete justice.

We affix our signatures voluntarily and with fervent prayers and hope that political decency and moral uprightness will sweep clean the corridors of powers in this country. Let that small voice reverberate to the far reaches of this country and across the seas to swell the crescendo of the cry for justice and peace.




Sign Petition
1. Rudy D. Liporada It is ironic that President Arroyo goes to Rome and offers as a gift to the Pope her abolishing of the death penalty when she just pays lip service to the extrajudicial killing of political activists and journalists.
2. Teogenes Bernardez Jr. Ituloy tayo ti panagkay-kaysa. Ket enta yo ngarud agkanta..."Pasanin mo ang Krus landasin ang kalbaryo itayo ang ban-tayog ng tao, alamin ang liwanag, damahin mo ang hirap at sa bukas ang bago'y mas-dan." Agbiag ti Ka-igurotan!!! Besat, TBJ
3. Rosalynda t. Callagan A cry from the heart... PLEASE HELP!!
4. Myrna Belingon Help stop these atrocities.
5. Augustin Velasco Jr. "let's open our blinded eyes"
6. rodolfo villanueva shalom!
7. Prilluz Gewan God gave us life and only God has the right to sow it.
8. Andrew B. Dompao (President - BIBAK-Texas) Stop the cowardice and senseless killings or else...
9. Jerry Abeya The pattern is obvious. Yet, no one has been put to justice. Stop these killings!!!
10. Antonio Gomowad Murders have no place in a democratic and Christian society. In God's Name may the Peacemakers never rest until justice is done and the assasins stopped.
11. Bart Alatan Justice is crying in the wilderness, stop these killings.
12. Geraldine L. Fiagoy The killing of civilians working for justice and opposing corruption is an act of cowardice
13. Beverly Tudlong-Pekas let us unite and let our voice be heard that we condemn these acts of senseless killings
14. Rex Pe Please STOP these atrocities!
15. aida f. santos stop the extrajudicial killings! justice for all victims!
16. Agnes B. Barroga Please stop the killings of innocent people!
17. Evelyn Padua Go tell it to the people, over the hills and everywhere. To stop killing and let my people be free.
18. graal bayang tauli justice for all the victims
19. sandre padua i support this petition
20. Melchora Chin "For United We Stand, Divided We Fall". Kaya mga kakabayan, let's be united in our stand to stop these atrocities.
21. Joan Duyan stop terminating human life
22. Forrest Comafay Bless those whom you speak,that they may proclaim your word in power,yet open the ears to your gentle whisper.
23. Alice Magalgalit Vickers My prayers for all concerned
24. Stevenson E. Kiat-ong Killings will only bring more killings.
25. Luchie Maranan Oust the number 1 terrorist in our midst! Let GMA pay for her blood debt to the people!
26. Al Alegre nasa atin ang bukas
27. Freddie Umayam I think it is time for us to move,if the law can't stop this killings may be it is good for us to start questioning the law and revise it's content.
28. gina dizon KILL THE KILLERS!
29. lingling maranan-claver let us defeat state terrorism!
30. Ray Baguilat, Jr. I bravely join my fellow Igorots in condemning violence such as this alleged extra-judicial killing. With this Igorot empowerment/people power, I plead to the authorities to uphold the constitution, the rule of law, and to immediately stop these extra-judicial killings. Peace and Justice to all !!!
31. Nestor A. Yodong STOP THE SENSELESS KILLINGS OF UNARMED CIVILIANS!!!!!!!!!!!!
32. Nancy Astudillo you cannot silence the growing unrest by killing people in the legal left. PUNISH THE PERPETRATORS OF THESE SENSELESS KILLINGS!!!
33. Bong and Vima Claver-Oris Enough is enough! JUSTICE for all and PEACE to all mankind!
34. patrick McDonough Remember Macliing
35. Jun Verzola Mas grabe pa ngayon kaysa noong martial law. Magkaisa't kumilos na tayo bago tuluyang mawala ang demokrasya sa bansa!
36. Noriman something has to be done
37. Elpidio Mendoza, Jr. Itigil na ang karahasan ng lahat ng panig! Tigilan na ang patayan, buong bayan ay nadadamay at nasasaktan! Magdiyalogo at pagusapan ng mahusay ang problema, gumawa ng hakbang-solusyon base sa pagkakaisa. Itigil na ang karahasan! Ang mga mamamayan at ang bayan ang nahihirapan at nasaksaktan!
38. Kim Quitasol In time of utter disrespect for sanctity of life, there is no neutral ground. It is either you ar for of against it.
39. Gaea Claver stop the killings..and GMA! woohoo!
40. shalom mk macli-ing ...
41. roland odsey i join in the condemnation of the acts of violence and violations of human rights especially against indigenous peoples, and the senseless consequences. i also join in the clamor for justice for the Clavers. i seek justice for all victims of human rights violations against indigenous peoples.
42. M.G. Ebro .
43. Viola G. Torres ...
44. Ferdinand Isla this act of terrorism should not go unpunished. let's act immediately not by words but by actions!
45. Caryle Kimvili Filog ..
46. Larry Lubos "let there be peace in the valley..."
47. Rev. Fr. Francisco R. Albano I have scheduled a novena of Masses for Alice.
48. Patricio Abinales Kyoto University,Japan
49. Joel Goldstein & Fe Lenore S. Maranan Goldstein There can be no peace if there is no justice.
50. Willybert Galas "Its just plain cowardice act of the GMA gov't."
51. Carolyn Gamiao Let's learn well the lessons of history ...
52. Lucy Davis Just as the Philippines gets regional repute for abolishing the death penalty, it is getting a far worse status for these kinds of crimes.
53. jan chow what is one more kill when thousands are being slaughtered in the middle east in the name of politics and religion? please stop manipulating the sacred name of religion and dirty word of politics as an excuse to draw more blood.
54. Vincent Michael Borneo Stop the Killings! Justice for Alyce and all victims of extrajudicial killings! Oust the Gloria Killing Machine!
55. Jay Reblora justice and prayers for all the victims.
56. RJ Salvador Give justice to the "leftists".. and for those atrocious gloomy shites! we'll pray for yor burning soul! let there be peace in our "bayan"... nuff' said! Peace and Love,,
57. E delos Reyes Prayers for the victims and for all of us grieving that such thing really does exist and though painful and sad as it is, i hope the incident strengthens and unites us more than ever..
58. Landel D. Demegillo With all these arbitrary killings perpetuated by both the military and the leftist groups, may the silent majority be silent no more.
59. Boom Setias Dizon A just struggle for life can't be murdered. Silencing one only amplifies the unison roar.
60. Cuyob, Ric Expose the state terrorism! Stop the political killings! Oust the US-Arroyo regime!
61. Ella Claver-Baldwin HUNT AND KILL THEM COWARDS...
62. Minnie Degawan Let us rage against the darkness that looms over the mountains of the Cordillera! Let us work for justice for all the victims, specially those who are left behind to cope with life without their loved ones.
63. Marilyn K. Baldo KILLERS, You're still alive but your souls are already burning in HELL!!!
64. Noreen Belarmino ...
65. Jodea Pearl Martin (Tabuk, Kalinga) the Arroyo Administration is synonymous to Terrorism!!!!!!!!
66. Manuel F. Na-oy The senseless killings of innocent people is an act of cowardice and utter disregard of the sanctity of life. Bring the perpetrators to punishment and end these rampant killings!!!!!
67. Moises Kurt Pachao Tegwa, ituloy ay mangilaban isnan kalintegan.
68. G. Farnaw A. Claver Let us not go silent. RAGE and CRY freedom and justice.
69. Lulu Delson-Fang-asan Let us all shout for justice. If we just whisper, they might think we are just leaves being ruffled by the wind.
70. Vicvic Lizardo The people who kill are bastardos, lets go get them with this petition....c'mon, lets go good guys
71. Cabnah Lizardo TAMA NA! SOBRA NA!
72. willy vidal alangui the arroyo government said it has nothing to be ashamed of about the abductions and political killings in the county! makes sense. why should the government be ashamed of something that it loves doing? arroyo's legacy to the filipino people: corruption, human rights violations, electoral fraud, nepotism... we are back in the dark ages!
73. Perry Mendoza no time to watch...its time to act, organize, educate the people on the Arroyos's worst human rights violations, encourage others to mobilze to condemn this non-stop killings...We strongly condemn & make MRS. Arroyo liable for this crimes against humanity and of genocide.
74. julie licudine-banana This killing is gruesome. It is not right. It must stop now!
75. Esther Lacbawan Marshall We demand justice for Chandu and Family as well as the Bangit family and others and we demand the removal of the Police Director and his gang and to stop the continued threats to journalists in Tabuk. Tama na ! Sobra na!!!
76. cecile salmin get real, talk, use your words.
77. chris basing-at this rampant political killings here in the cordillera is a sign of barbarism !lets all join hands not to tolerate this kind of barbaric act! agbiyag ti cordillera!
78. Jing Dup-et Dagusen-Dominguez Stop the killings. Justice for all victims.
79. luz alipit We arer called to stand up for life! To respect and defend the mystery of life and erverywhere.
80. lydia pescozo justice for claver family
81. Archie Stapleton We pray there will be no more victims and also wish above all that there be no more silent bystanders. Silence at such times is the voice of complicity.
82. Cheryl L. Daytec-Yañgot To Manang Alyce (whom I met after her death), They snuffed out the life force within you but the seeds of discontent and enlightenment germinated as your flesh joined the earth. In life thousands never held your hand; in death you are there in their hearts. The revolted throng is siwftly trooping to the thorny trails you sauntered. Your courage paralleled by those who have gone ahead is their weapon. From my distance, the narrow long road has been widened by meters and bounds. Youth has quickly blossomed by years adept to unscramble conundrums of tragedy, one day after dressing up dolls and draining the power of battery-operated toy cars. The debilitated resolve of the mass consigned to hunger and disease is revivified. The voices muted by fear and hopelessness now demand every ear to listen, every arm to act, every heart to feel and every mind to grasp. Alyce, your death accomplished that. Alyce, Alyce, listen to the throng. They are all there wanting a piece of you. They want a piece of your cause. Your killing is senseless but your death is purposeful. Thank you, Manang Alyce. You died that we who are in the here and now will live. I submit my name for inclusion into the list of those who condemn your death, but draw strength from it.
83. Leandro B. Yañgot, Jr. A world where life has lost is sanctity is no world we will never want for ourselves and our children. Stop the killings. NOW!!!
84. abigail t. bengwayan stop the killings. respect the sanctity of life.
85. sarah k. dekdeken no one should be killed because of his/her political beliefs
86. Windel Bolinget Evil prevails if good men do nothing. Let's join forces against Oplan Bantay Laya and political killings of the Arroyo regime. Justice to all victims of state terrorism and political persecution. Oust the GMA. Sakbay ay maamin tako, lumaban tako ketdi tay mangpatpatey da metlaeng uray maid basol tako.
87. Joris Smeets Justice for the victims of political killings! Long live international solidarity!
88. Mariano Cruz Jr. In honor of our martyrs let us continue the fight until the reason for which they died for has come forth.
89. Mario Demira Your brothers and sisters in America will not forget the struggle fro justice and equality back home in the Philippines.
90. rodel mapagpalayang pagbati po kaisa po kami sa extra judic..killing, para tutulan ang pagpatay sa mga aktibista...mabuhay
91. Charmin Consolacion May the courage of our people who passed give us strength to take action.
92. Rex de los Santos the Macapagal-Arroyo fascist administration and its militarist cohorts should be prosecuted internationally and must be punished.
93. Celso TOLMAN STOP THE KILLINGS.SHAME ON US. OUR NATION AND PEOPLE DESERVES BETTER.
94. Celso TOLMAN STOP THE KILLINGS.SHAME ON US. OUR NATION AND PEOPLE DESERVES BETTER.
95. Vernie Yocogan-Diano Justice for the Victims of extra-judicial killings.Stop the Killings!OUST Gloria Macapagal Arroyo!
96. Karl Hedner Hope justice will be achieved.