Below is a statement published by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance:

 

 

Dear friends, 

 

Please join us to demand for the immediate pullout of the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Tinoc, Ifugao, and to hold them accountable for their human rights violations.  

 

The National Internal Security Plan of the Philippine government called “OplanBayanihan” (Operation Plan Solidarity) has militarized the communities of Tinoc, Ifugao among other communities in the Cordillera region and has resulted to human rights violations in the municipality such as torture, divestment and destruction of properties, political vilification, and threat, harassment and intimidation. 

 

We became more alarmed when the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), the chapter of 

Karapatan in the Cordillera, received a document entitled “MUNICIPALITY OF TINOC (Target Persons).  The document was given to CHRA on the last week of October by concerned element of the Charlie Company of the 86th Battalion (Highlander) of the 5th Infantry (Star) Division (ID), Philippine Army based in Tinoc, Ifugao. The two-page document bears the logos of the 86th IBPA and the 5th ID.  In five columns, names of individuals are listed as well as their alleged rank, mobile phone number, organization and the remarks/assessment of them of the 86th IBPA and the 5th ID.   

 

The document listed development workers and members and leaders of people’s organizations as “Supporter ng NPA”  (Supporter of the New People’s Army (NPA)); “NagbibigayngPagkainsa NPA” (Provides Food for the NPA); “Tuluganng NPA angKanilangBahay” (The NPA sleeps at their house); ImbakanngBaril (Storage of Guns)”.   

 

Jude Baggo, Secretary General of CHRA was listed as number 22 and was classified as “UTAK 

NG NPA” (Brains of the NPA).  

 

Development workers of the Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera (CDPC) and the Montanosa Resource and Development Center (MRDC) were listed as “UTAK NG NPA” as well. 

 

The people listed in the document are active in conducting community-based programs on human rights, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and socio-economic projects in the communities of Tinoc and its adjacent municipality of Asipulo.  

 

The Target List is a cause for alarm because the political vilification does not simply stop with name-calling.  The document itself is entitled “Target List.”The document listed 28 civilians as targets of military combat operations in Tinoc. Ifugao. 

 

Mr. Pio Dangew, former Barangay Captain of Gumhang, Tinoc, Ifugao and the present Chairman of the Gumhang Farmers Association for Development (GFDA) stated that he fears for his and his family’s life and security.  According to the Target List, his home is assessed as “TULUGAN NG NPA ANG KANILANG BAHAY”  (The NPA sleeps in his house).  Due to stress, he has been deprived of sleep for weeks. He gets startled every time the dog barks or when he hears someone walking towards their house.  Mr. Dangew narrated how most of the time he cannot eat properly. His work routine is disturbed. His wife cried after they were informed of the document. To make matters worse, he and his family are constantly harassed by elements of the 86th IBPA in plainclothes because of his involvement with the local farmers association.  

 

The name of Mr. Gabino Lindawan, an administrative aide III of the Ifugao Provincial Agriculture and Environment and Resources Office (PAENRO) is also in the list.  His home is assessed as “IMBAKAN NG BARIL”  (Storage of guns).   He was tortured by elements of the 86th IBPA last July when they were looking for members of the NPA.  Last July 21, 2012, heavily armed elements of the 86th IBPA dragged Lindawan from his house and interrogated him for hours under the rain with guns pointed at his head.  He was mauled and was told that he will be buried near the “ambush site” if they can find a shovel. These elements also destroyed parts of the provincial nursery in their search for guns. Last October 2012, these State security forces even had the temerity to charge Mr. Lindawan with illegal possession of explosives after he filed a complaint against them.  Mr. Lindawan said that these incidents and the Target Persons list made life more difficult for him. Elements of the 86th IBPA constantly make their intimidating presence felt at the provincial nursery that made him not to report for duty for two months.  He was without pay for this span of time and almost lost his job.  He also observed unidentified men riding motorcycles and passing nearby his residence. He finds it difficult to sleep, eat and work.  

 

Mr. Modesto Hanggoy, who was listed as number 01 and whose home was classified as “IMBAKAN NG BARIL”  (Storage of Guns) narrated how since the encampment of the 86th IBPA in Tinoc, he and his family regularly notice elements of the military in plainclothes watching their house. The 86th IBPA constantly visits him in their house asking numerous questions. In one incident, while he was being asked, an unidentified element of the 86th IBPA was video-recording his responses and taking pictures of him. With all these things happening to him and his family, he said that he was being treated like a criminal. Mr. Hanggoy said that he is a law-abiding citizen and did not commit any crime against any person.

 

A dialogue was held last November 12, 2012 as Governor Eugene Balitang’s response to the numerous complaints of residents from Tinoc on the 86th IBPA’s numerous human rights violations including Captain DaniloLalin’s rape of two 16-year old minors from Mankayan, Benguet.  In this dialogue, the AFP denied the existence of such a list and denied that the violations took place even in front of their victims.  They instead tried to justify their continued presence in communities and even the use of civilian facilities while they are in combat operations.   

 

The Provincial Department of Interior and Local Government Officer in Charge (DILG-OIC), Ms. Rosario Dumetod stated that she believes human rights violations were perpetrated and that these need to be investigated.  To appease the people of Tinoc who were angered by the statements of the 86th IBPA and the 5th ID, Governor Balitang gave a commitment that the provincial government will pay for the damages of the 86th IBPA, including the salary of Mr. Lindawan who was not able to work for fear for his life.  While it was a sign of goodwill for the governor to pay the damages, it stands to rob the people of Ifugao from whatever meager resources the province has.  It is the people of Ifugao paying for damages done by the AFP. 

 

The people of Tinoc, Ifugao stood firm in their demand for the pull out of the 86 IBPA. 

 

They need our support now especially as the leaders and members of the community, the development workers and human rights defenders are attacked by the State security forces. 

 

Please send letters, emails or fax messages calling for: 

 

The pullout of the 86th IBPA from Tinoc, Ifugao Indemnification for the victims of human rights violations including the unpaid salary of Mr. GabinoLindawan and the crops and properties that were divested and destroyed. The stop to the political vilification of people’s organizations, development workers and human rights defenders as “enemies of the state.” The accountability of the 86th IBPA and the 5th ID of its human rights violations The Philippine Government to withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, which victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Human Rights instruments and International Humanitarian Laws, thus it is bound to observe all of these.