The Filipino army has viciously shot dead a Cordilleran farmer, highlighting the violence and intolerance of the Philippines towards the Cordilleran nation.

Below is an article published by Sun Star Baguio:

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHMA) claimed that violations of human rights remain prevalent in the countryside, narrating that another civilian was killed by the military without any seemingly justifiable cause last April 4 [2008].

The alleged victim was Rey Logao, a farmer from Lubuagan, Kalinga. 

The incident happened around 10 to 11 a.m. […] Logao and two of his companions were walking towards their grazing lands to get their carabaos when soldiers belonging to the 21st and 77th Infantry Battalion (IB) arrived and did a body search on them.

CHRA chairperson Rene Cortes said a caliber .45 pistol was seen tucked in Logao's back. He claimed he was immediately shot when soldiers saw the gun. 

Cortes said Logao bore 10 gunshot wounds. His companions, on the other hand, were detained for several hours and were released only after villagers came to retrieve Logao's remains.

The other farmers and the Logao's body were released at 5 p.m. the same day. 

[…]

After the burial last April 7, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) met with relatives of Logao and gave P20,000 as financial assistance. 

Cortes argued that the financial assistance is an indication that the AFP recognized Logao as a civilian, not a rebel as presumed.

"We raise alarm that farmers in the Cordillera continue to be accused as members of the New Peoples Army (NPA)," Cortes said while stressing to give justice to the family, prosecute the perpetrators, and stop the AFP operations in Kalinga as their presence continue to threaten and violate people's rights.