CAFGU kills commanding officer in Sadanga town in Mountain Province

By: Arthur L. Allad-iw, Northern Dispatch (Special to InterAksyon)
December 19, 2014 8:01 PM

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The online news portal of TV5

BAGUIO CITY - A member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) from the Saclit tribe of Sadanga, Mountain Province allegedly shot to death his commanding officer and then performed a "tomo," a ritual followed by his tribe when a warrior kills a person or an enemy.

According to a Sadanga police report, Antonio Cassiw Jr., a member of the Saclit tribe of Sadanga, shot to death his CO Sgt. Jerry C. Cuntapay, 46, using his official issue M14 rifle.

The report stated that the two arrived drunk and still continued with their drinking session at the 77 IB CAFGU battalion camp at Sitio Opokan, Poblacion, Sadanga between 9 pm to 10 pm on December 6, 2014, where the shooting occurred.

An altercation between the two then followed, after which Cassiw apparently proceeded to his guard post followed by Cuntapay. A shot rang out and the army officer's body was found by responding CAFGU men sprawled on the ground.

A medical report showed that Cuntapay was shot at the back of his head with bullet apparently exiting from his face.

Sadanga Mayor Gabino Ganggangan said that Cassiw, whom he confirmed to be from the Saclit tribe, is the subject of a manhunt by the town's policemen.

After performing the tomo, Cassiw fled, but barangay officials of Saclit turned over to the PNP the M14 rifle issued to Cassiw and the M16 Armalite rifle of Cuntapay, who has served the Philippine Army for 25 years.

A murder case was filed against Cassiw at the Regional Trial Court in Bontoc, Mountain Province based on testimonies of the other CAFGU soldiers and the "tomo" ritual that he had immediately performed after the killing.

An elder from Sadanga explained that "tomo" ritual is performed when someone kills a person. The killer is dressed in a warrior's attire during the ritual and members of his "ator" or indigenous circle also join in.

BSU to miss 2014 performance-based bonus

By: Arthur L. Allad-iw, Northern Dispatch (Special to InterAksyon)
December 19, 2014 7:43 PM

Photograph by Arthur L. Allad-iw, InterAksyon.com

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

BAGUIO CITY – It is bad news for employees at Benguet State University (BSU), with its main campus in La Trinidad, Benguet, as the workers in all levels will not receive their performance-based bonus, or PBB.

The reason: The institution did not make the grade due to management and governance issues.

A document from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) cited the assessment result by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) that the disqualification was based on one of the five eligibility requirements on good governance conditions: The transparency seal.

The assessment stated that the institution only partially complied with the transparency seal.

Based on this shortcoming, which reflected less than satisfactory management functions, the 720 or so employees of BSU will not receive the bonus this year.

In 2012, when it qualified for the PBB, the employees enjoyed such a bonus, with each of the 720 employees receiving a flat-rate of P7,000 based on their internal agreement and regardless of their individual performance and rank.

Since they failed to live up to expectations this 2013, they will not receive the bonus this year.

Employees from the faculty and non-faculty rank and file were "broken hearted", as the amount from the PBB could have made their families happier this Christmas season.

Employees who requested anonymity claimed they did their part but management failed them.

Darlyn D. Tagarino, President of the faculty club association, summed up the sentiments of the rank and file employees. "Of course we felt disappointed. But there were valid reasons as pointed out by the IATF."

"We need to live with it, and the experience would make us better next time," she said in an interview.

BSU Vice-Pres. for Academic Affairs Dr. Percyveranda Lubrica claimed that the questioned posting of BSU's financial accomplishment on the web site was the reason for the school's PBB disqualification.

A letter of DBM Secretary Florencio Abad reminded BSU to publish its MFO Accounting Report CARD (MARC-1) and Management Accountability Report CARD (MARC-2) on its web site, which Lubrica acknowledged was one of the non-accomplished performance indicators.

On the other hand, Dr. Estrelita Daclan, VP for Administration and Finance, said that their main weakness was that they failed to put in one column in the worksheet pertaining to the budget for their targets.

"We missed 0.5 to obtain the passing score," she explained.

Regardless of the reasons, however, the employees said that their PBB disqualification boils down to a management issue that was out of their control.

PWDs need their Baguio Affairs Office

December 14, 2014 

By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — While celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities through a colorful parade on Monday, PWDs in this city called for the establishment of a law-mandated affairs office here.

Leaders of the PWD Federation on their wheel chairs lead the parade on December 8. Photo by Arthur L. Allad-iw

The Federation of Persons With Disabilities Baguio – Benguet chapter pointed out that Republic Act 10070 mandates the creation of the PWD Affairs Office (PDAO) in the province, city and municipality. It also institutionalizes the mechanisms to ensure programs and services for PWDs.

Antonio Damasco, afflicted by an ortho-related disability, said that the federation is laying down the criteria for the appropriate PWD who would be endorsed for the said office.

“The federation, in coordination with government offices, had a meeting on December 3 and among the PWDs representing their organizations are presently preparing for the criteria,” Damasco said in an interview.

The city’s office of the DSWD showed that there are 1,375 PWDs on its list. A 2011 data from the regional office of the DSWD showed that there 6,781 listed PWDs in the Cordillera. Excluded are those who failed to enlist themselves in this office. According to a census of the National Statistic Office, PWDs make up around 1.23 percent of the national population.

PWDs based in this city claimed that they suffer from double marginalization: facing their particular issues as PWDs and as consequences of being poor and marginalized.

Among their main concerns are problems on the education of special children, rehabilitation, accessibility to livelihood, and housing.

“This is aside from the everyday discrimination they encounter from “abled” persons,” said Daniel Padilan, who was amputated above both knees and now uses a wheel chair to facilitate his mobility.

Aside from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and RA 10070, various Philippine laws mandate respect for the rights of PWDs, such as the following:

Batasang Pambansa 344 requires buildings, institutions, establishments, and other public utilities to install facilities and other devices for PWDs.

Republic Act 7229 or the Magna Carta on the Rights of Person with Disabilities mandates the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream of society. Even their political rights, like the right to vote, and civil rights are assured by this law.

RA 9442 mandates the 20 percent discount. It also calls for educational assistance and special commodities discount, and criminalizes public ridicule and vilification of PWDs.

These laws must be strictly observed by government for their realization, added a parent of a PWD. “

“But establishing a PDAO would help the local government in rendering services to the PWDs,” said Damasco.

The annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities started on December 3, 2007 and every year thereafter through the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 62/127. # 

Mountain Province elders recognize role of women in defense of land and peace

By: Arthur L. Allad-iw, InterAksyon.com
December 14, 2014 11:00 AM

Bontoc women. FILE PHOTO BY ARTHUR ALLAD-IW

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

BAGUIO CITY – The amam-a (male elders) of Mountain Province have recognized the role of women elders in the defense of their ancestral homeland from corporate and state projects.

In strengthening their elders’ organization in the province, they instituted membership of women and programs that would give them greater role in the campaign for the defense of their land and community peace.

In the recent congress of the elders under the Movement for the Advancement of Inter-Tribal Unity and Development (Maitud) in the capital town of Bontoc, they affirmed the role of elders, including women, for the defense of land and resources for future generations.

Elvira Taguba, from the Bontok ethnolinguistic group, explained this new achievement of their organizing had not only enlightened the male elders who dominated leadership. “They recognized the role of women during times that their homeland is threatened by large-scale projects and how these women elders took the cudgel for the protection of their communities.”

In an interview, Taguba explained the role of women who stopped the large-scale mining plan in Mainit, Bontoc and in the opposition of the World Bank-funded Chico River Hydro Energy project that would submerge ili (villages) in Bontoc and Kalinga.

She cited the leadership of Mother Petra Macliing of Bontoc who led the women in removing their clothes that drove mine spectators from Mainit.

Presently in the watershed areas of the Chico River in the boundaries of Ifugao-Mountain Province and Mountain Province-Kalinga, there are at least six applications for financial and technical assistance agreement (AFTA) mostly by foreign corporations, two applications for production and sharing agreements (PSA), and five exploration permit agreements (Expa), which is almost 49.92 percent of the total mine applications covering 1,111,995.4351 hectares based on records of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

“It is through the women, like Mother Macliing, that went to Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga in the late 70s and early 80s to explain the consequences of the Chico River dam if allowed. Macliing Dulag, a pangat(peace pact holder) of Bugnay led the Kalinga in the anti-Chico Dam protest until he was killed by state soldiers in the 80s,” explained Taguba, who is a member of the secretariat of the Cordillera Elders Assembly where Maitud is a member.

In the elders’ congress, Anglican priest Fr. Pablo Buyagan urged the promotion of the value of life and all that sustains life.

“The defense of life, land, and resources is tantamount to our survival as people and communities. The destruction of our lands and resources would rob the future generations the means for survival,” added Fr. Buyagan.

As elders, both men and women, this is a great consciousness that made us live even today and it is our obligation to pass to the next generation. We need to actively participate in all aspects of local struggles in our communities to defend our resources against destruction, added Fr. Buyagan, who is from Kalinga.

The recent elders’ congress was held at the Bishop Longid Hall, ENDP Building, Bontoc, Mt. province and was participated in by almost 100 male and women elders from the various towns of the province.  

Ibalois hit NCIP for cancellation of ancestral land titles

Ibalois hit NCIP for cancelled titles

November 23, 2014 

By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Ibaloi ancestral land claimants and their lawyers are up in arms when the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) issued a resolution to cancel their ancestral land and domain titles after these had undergone the required and legal processes mandated by RA 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.

IBALOI CLAIMANTS. (From left to right) Mrs. Pacita Medina holds their Happy Hallow ancestral domain title issued and signed by all the commissioners of the NCIP. Also in the picture: their legal counsel former Benguet Board Member Manuel Cuilan and Chona Kubulan Espina (with eyeglasses) who represents the Kellet clan of Dagsian barangay. Photo by Arthur L. Allad-iw

In a press conference Wednesday, they scored that a resolution by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) dated October 8 undermined the IPRA law and had denied them due process as the cancellation was done without giving them time to present their side, nor informing them of the cancellation and their grounds thereof.

NCIP Commission En Banc Resolution 06-086-2014 ordered cancelled Ancestral Land Titles (ALT) 000302, 000303, and 000304. The agency said that these ALTs are unaccounted for and considered lost, and the resolution created an investigation team to look into the matter.

Atty. Alfonso Aroco, counsel of the owners, said that ALT 000302 is located in the area now occupied by Casa Vallejo and was awarded to the heirs of Cosen Piraso, ALT 000302 is located in Pacdal and was awarded to the heirs of Josephine M. Abanag, and ALT 000304 is located in South Drive and was awarded to the heirs of Lauro Carantes.

He added that after complying with the processes mandated by the IPRA law, these ALTs were awarded to the claimants in November 2010. These titles were registered at the Register of Deeds of this city in that same year.

It was learned that before the ALTs were awarded to the owners, they had undergone the processes on ancestral land claims as per DENR Administrative Order Number 2 and, as a consequence, granted Certificate of Ancestral Land Claims (CALCs), which under the 1997 IPRA mandated the NCIP, as to its ministerial function, to convert it to ALTs.

“In fact, these claims are among the original Ibaloi claims recognized in 1937,” Aroco explained in a press conference on Wednesday.

If it is indeed true that these are unaccounted and missing, why let the beneficiaries suffer from a misdeed not of their own making, added Aroco where he reiterated that an investigation instead must be done for those responsible of the lost ALTs. He added that the said instruments were kept by the NCIP Ancestral Domain Office and the investigation should be done against them instead of punishing the beneficiaries by cancelling their legally acquired title.

We will file appropriate charges if the said office does not rectify its mistake, he said.

Cancellations via the court

In the same press conference, Ibalois who acquired ALTs over their ancestral land and domain title also criticized the move to have their titles cancelled.

Lawyer Manuel Cuilan explained that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) which manages the former American military base – now Club John Hay – filed a case of cancellation of ALTs to the heirs of Kellet and Morie Shodang whose ancestral lands are claimed by BCDA as part of the former military base. He added that even the Ancestral Domain Title (ADT) granted to indigenous peoples of Happy Hallow is included for cancellation by the case filed by the BCDA, through the office of the Solicitor General.

Cuilan said that the case was filed at the Regional Trial Court in Baguio City which decided that it has no jurisdiction over the case as it is under the NCIP. BCDA appealed to the Court of Appeals where the said court decided in upholding the RTC Baguio decision, and not contented with it, they went to the Supreme Court reiterating that the RTC has jurisdiction and must decide on their petition.

Cuilan pointed out that the move is unnecessarily exhausting the resources of the government. Both offices, the BCDA and the NCIP are under the office of the president which could have facilitated dialogue to resolve the matter and not put the two agencies on different sides of the coin.

“The NCIP, after the beneficiaries had undergone the IPRA processes, granted the said ALTs and ADT, and here is the another office under the Office of the President moving for the cancellation of these titles,” he explained to media adding: this is another injustice to the Ibalois who exerted their resources and all their effort for the land that they are historically entitled to.

The Ancestral Domain Title for Happy Hallow was granted based on the claims of the six clans, namely, Canuto, Ciso, Pitlongay, Paytocan, Liwan, and Otinguey for a total land area of more or less 146 hectares. Representing the Otinguey clan, Pacita S. Medina said that the move to cancel is unfair for indigenous people.

“If they had any opposition to our claims, why did they fail to raise it when we were processing our title? They were there during the surveys and other activities during our application,” she pointed out in the conference. Their ancestral domain sustainable development program was even recognized by the City Council.

Chona Kubulan Espina, who represents the Kellet clan in Dagsian Barangay, also narrated the act of BCDA prohibiting development of their ancestral lands despite their tiles. And like Medina, she claimed that there were no consultations done with them before the move for the cancellation of their titles was made.

Making the situation tense, they alleged that a commissioner of the NCIP, in a meeting, told them that their titles are to be cancelled as these are just pieces of paper and she (commissioner) even got the nerve to shout at them.

Cuilan said that this move is not correcting the historical injustice of denying the Ibalois of their rights to their ancestral land and domains. The NCIP was primarily established to work for the interests of indigenous peoples, he added.

He hit the present administration that while the Carino Doctrine started in this city where the American Court declared that lands possessed by indigenous peoples never became public and privately owned, it is not applied in the city where the case originated. # nordis.net

Baguio media light candles to urge justice for victims of the Maguindanao massacre

Baguio media light candles to urge justice for victims of the Maguindanao massacre

Urge PNoy to protect witnesses, help victims’ families on livelihood 

By Arthur Allad-iw

BAGUIO CITY – Media practitioners in this summer capital city lit candles at the Session Road Rotunda here to commemorate the 5^th year commemoration of the killings of 58 mostly media workers in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009



Photo by: Noel Godinez 

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Photo: Art Allad-iw

With candles lighted forming the number 58 to reiterate the victims of the Maguindanao massacre, the local media practitioners – wearing black and red shirts - urged the administration of Pres. Noynoy Aquino to perform his tasks by doing all means that would facilitate the immediate resolution of the case, which they claimed is in a turtle-pace at its present dispensation.

The candles that had been lighted tonight at the Rotunda and those at home, who cannot attend the activity, represent the days when the massacred happened up to this day and to reiterate that justice is still elusive for the victims of the horrible massacre in the history of the Philippines. It was a joint activity by media practitioners affiliated with the local chapter of the National Union of Students of the Philippines and the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters club.

Photo by Rocky Ngalob

“We do not only commemorate the untimely death of our compatriots, but we resolve to elevate to a higher level of vigilance our call for justice for the victims of the massacre,” said Kathleen Okubo, chairperson of the local NUJP and editor of the Northern Dispatch Weekly.

                                            

Photo: Art Allad-iw

The journalists also reiterated in their activity four points, which are as follows:

First, the case resolution of the Maguindanao massacre is a turtle-pace which allegedly reflects our justice system;

Second, Pres. Aquino should do his tasks as the highest officer of the land by ensuring that concerned agencies are performing their tasks towards attainment of justice for the victims, as they claimed that Aquino, whose father was killed during the fascist regime of Marcos, also experienced what the children of the victims felt at the moment;

Third, that the witnesses be extended protection in order that they will help in proving the guilt beyond reasonable doubt of those accused, as they pointed out that a fifth witness was recently killed; and,

Fourth, the government should extend protection to families of witnesses as they are continuously threatened. They pointed a situation where Myrna Parangan-Reblando, wife of one of the journalists killed, was forced to seek refuge to other country because of the continuing threat to her and her family. They also urged that the government extend hand to the victims’ families, particularly for livelihood until they can recover as their murdered kin were their bread winners, who died untimely and detached them from their sustenance.

Photo by: Noel Godinez

The lighted candles are the local media’s contribution on the target one million candles to be lighted nationwide by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.  # 

Sagada's Balangagan Cave, an underground wonder and ancient burial ground

Underground wonder Photo by Aldwin Quitasol

Sagada’s Balangagan Cave, an underground wonder & ancient burial ground

Published by the Northern Dispatch Weekly November 16, 2014 

By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW


The genesis is from a folk tale passed on by elders. A long time ago, three men from Taccong, Sagada went for kupiti (bat) hunting inside a liyang (cave) caught quite a fortune – lot of bats. On their exit, they had difficulty finding the way out. They got tired, confused, and fear took over them as it seemed they kept ending up in the same area of the liyang. They heard a voice of a spirit dwelling in the cave. It told them not to take out dwellers (the bats) or anything from the cave. Immediately, the three men Bangcawayan, Lawagan and Nagayang freed all the bats they caught. Then they followed the same path they took and came out alive from the liyang.

Lakay (elder) Julio Mani of Taccong retold this tale on Wednesday’s inauguration of the Balangagan Cave to serve as a reminder, “while we open the cave for visits to tourists and locals, nothing should be taken out from the cave,” he told the crowd of representatives from different agencies, officials, media and villagers.
From the tale, it was learned that the liyang was named after as Balangagan, coined from the names of the three lost villagers inside the cave, and, perhaps, an eternal reminder for visitors to observe their indigenous concept of inayan or lawa, leave the things as they are sacred to the area.

Balangagan Cave inauguration. Photo Art Allad-iw

Balangagan is located in the hilly and pine tree covered barangay of Taccong and Suyo, Sagada, Mountain Province. It is more or less three kilometers from Poblacion. Sagada is more or less 130 kilometers and a four to five hour drive – on the improved Halsema Highway – from Baguio City.
It is a unique wonder, natural underground environment of various rock formations and century-old burial grounds of the ancestors of the indigenous peoples in the area. Such complimented Sagada as Shangrila of the north due to its waterfalls, lake, pristine pine-clad mountains, and wonderful underground caves that offer natural attractions to spelunkers and nature lovers.

Blue-watered natural pool. Photo Art Allad-iw

Natural wonder
Near the entrance of Balangagan is an eye-catching blue-water natural pool, where guides claim turns to green during rainy season. Flowing crystal clear streams seem to lead vistors into the cave.
Stalactites and stalagmites, in various forms and sizes, will definitely glue the eyes of adventurers to the roof from the entrance to inside the cave. “Its colorful speleothems are studded with sparkles that glint when lighted,” Robert Pangod, the municipal tourism officer said. Like the Sumaging cave of the town, these natural formations at the Balangagan cave are beyond description but best appreciated only when personally seen.

Cave entrance. Photo by Art Allad-iw

Cavers are cautioned, too, in exploring the winding hollows as there are low ceilings and passages that are tight and slippery. As such, cavers are advised to use appropriate footwear, and must visit the area with the assistance of professional guides provided when visitors register at the Poblacion.

Cavers would be amused with cathedral wide spaces inside complimented by the echoing din of bat sounds, the only music one may hear. And, the bats’ guano, evidence that the area had been closed for a long time, as one would have his foot covered up to his knee from the substance.

Rock formations. Photo by Art Allad-iw

Sacred burial ground
Balangagan’s natural wonders are complimented by the rich heritage of the indigenous people in the area. It is a sacred burial ground where various coffins were either tucked in high above on the ceiling, hanging coffins, or piled one coffin on top another. Their dead at the Balangagan Cave were placed in hollowed tree trunks and in jars, elders added. And they added that the cave’s twilight zone was an ideal resting place for their departed. “It is sacred that we are morally bound to protect,” explained Lakay Mani.

While amazed by how the coffins were kept inside, there are various questions that arise.

One of the rock formations. Photo by Aldwin Quitasol

At the height of a three storey building, there were coffins – both jars and hollowed tree trunks. There was no evidence insight of how they did it or any evidence of support materials in the area that they may have used to reach such height.

“How did the earlier ancestors place the coffins at that height? How old are these jars used as coffins?,” were among the questions raised by Larry Fabian, a journalist based in Baguio City. The questions may be answered by anthropologists who may have studied these ancient practices, as the elders had no documented literature to aid answers for the questions raised.

Photo by Aldwin Quitasol

Marcos Cave
The wonders of Balangagan captivated officials of the then President Fedinand Marcos administration. Then provincial Governor Alfredo Lam-en facilitated the development of Sagada as tourist destination. Through the Ministry of Tourism headed by Jose Aspiras, Lamen facilitated a road to Taccong and opened the cave to the public. In return, it was through him that the cave was named Marcos Cave, a chamber named Imelda, the wife, and the hall, as Aspiras hall, all directed for a development of the area as tourist attraction.
The development stopped during the tumultuous years of Marcos until he was removed from power via the Peoples Power Revolution.

But the cave named after Marcos, his wife and crony, was not acceptable to the people, ever since it was coined in the 80s. Hence villagers still call it Balangagan cave.

Reopening of Balangagan
The reopening of the cave is a move by the southern barangays of Sagada, namely Taccong, Suyo, Nacagang and Ankileng. They favor the opening of the cave which would be integrated to the town’s plan but, importantly, a community-based tourism program where they will have a greater role in the development and management. “This community-based tourism program will be ensured by our municipality, particularly the culture of the umili (villagers) of respecting the sacredness of the place,” assured Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr., as they will adopt more measures to ensure that the coffins inside will be protected from deterioration and vandalism.

Accessibility, too, is addressed as the Balili-Payag-eo-Suyo road is on-going as a priority project funded by the DPWH-DOT convergence program.

Road development for easier access to the cave. Photo Art Allad-iw 

Such accessibility is seen by the municipal government as a step to easily supervise the area and arrest from defacement. Vandalism, destructions of the stalactites and stalagmites, desecration of the coffins and the remains had been noted earlier in the cave. With such accessibility and municipality’s adoption of management plan, stakeholders believed that Balangagan can be maintained at its present state.

But the words of Lakay Mani that reverberates must be incorporated in the plan, “nothing should be taken out from the cave as it is a sacred ground. We are willing to share the appreciation of this natural and cultural heritage to visitors who can freely visit the area. A must, however, is the respect of our system – that the area is a resting place of our departed ancestors. We are morally bound to protect its sacredness.” #nordis.net

http://www.interaksyon.com/search?q=arthur+allad-iw+on+mountain+province+folk

Mountain Province folk hold indignation rally over death of student under police custody

By: Arthur Allad-iw, Northern Dispatch (Special to InterAksyon.com)
November 13, 2014 8:19 AM

Mountain Province residents hold an indignation rally in the capital town Bontoc on November 12, 2014, calling for justice over the death of 20-year-old college student Stephen Galidan, allegedly a victim of police brutality. (Photo courtesy of Ricky Samidan)

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

BAGUIO CITY – At least 1,000 residents of Mountain Province, led by provincial and municipal officials, on Wednesday held an indignation rally condemning the death of a 20-year-old college student arrested by policemen for allegedly violating a curfew ordinance.

Stephen Bosleng Galidan, a sophomore taking up Business Administration at the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, was picked up by the police on November 4 for allegedly loitering in the town with fellow students who scampered when the police were about to approach them, according to a Bontoc police report.

Photo credit: Ricky Samidan


The police report said that while Galidan was being brought to the police station, the student jumped out of the patrol car and landed on the road.
Bontoc police further said in the report that Galidan was brought to the hospital where he died the following day.

The rally against police brutality, considered as the biggest in the decade, was conducted by students of Mountain Province State Polytechnic College and attended by provincial officials, led by Gov. Leonard Mayaen, as well as municipal officials from the towns of Bauko, Sabangan, and Bontoc.
Mayaen told the rally participants at the plaza in the capital town Bontoc to be vigilant to contain the excesses of police, who tainted the name of their institution.

“Let us not allow such excesses, let us be vigilant,” Mayaen said.

He called for a fair and impartial investigation of the five policemen said to be involved in the custody and resultant death of Galidan, a resident of the vegetable-producing village of Monamon Sur, Bauko.
Bauko Mayor Abraham Akilit said an investigation should lead to the filing of appropriate charges against the policemen.

Akilit asked why the police, who should be protecting the people, are the ones involved in the loss of an innocent life.

Photo credit: Ricky Samidan


“If the police cannot assure security for our youth, we will bring home our 400 youth who are studying here in Bontoc,” said Akilit, adding that “those involved should be punished and jailed in Muntinlupa.”
Abi Batawang, an elder, said the rally was not against the police force per se but a call for justice for Galidan, an innocent youth who died allegedly due to police brutality.

The youth group Mountain Province Youth Alliance (MPYA) hit the police for saying in their report that Galidan died when he jumped out from the police car and hit the road.

Marceline Pilala, MPYA spokesperson, scored the police story as a move to cover up their atrocities.
She urged authorities to hand down an administrative suspension on the policemen involved so that witnesses can come out to reveal the truth without fear.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office-Cordillera Director Isagani Nerez said they have secured a witness’ statement that Galidan was maltreated and that the five police officers have been suspended to pave the way for an investigation.

Galidan was buried on Saturday, November 8, in his village in Monamon Sur. #

Advocate’s Overview: Our ancestors’ burial grounds

October 26, 2014 in columns, Cordillera, Featured, opinion by patnugutan

By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

It is again the season when Filipino Christians go to the cemetery to visit their dead kin’s grave. This has been a year after year occasion observed every first day of November. Today’s use of a cemetery is traceable as introduced by Christianity in the country.

Even in the Cordillera, people visit their community cemeteries where their dead relatives were buried. Interesting to note though is that prior to colonialism, indigenous peoples of the region had a common village burial grounds, too. These indigenous burial grounds were slowly “supplanted” by the Christian way of burying the dead. On this issue, we would like to share the burial practices of some ethnolinguistic groups prior to colonialism, and the changes brought about by colonialism to these practices.

Among the Kankanaey of Mountain Province, they buried their dead in a pamunpunan – usually the caves orliang. In Central Sagada particularly, the dead were laid in a wooden coffin put in place above the caves, these coffins when viewed from a distance seem to be hanging – hence the hanging coffins of Sagada.

Infants were buried in front of the house, in an area where the rain water from the house drops. Usually without any elaborate rituals and sacrifices of animals like that done in the burial rites of a dead adult.

In their aayagan or spiritual ground in Tekeng, the amam-a or elders of Kiltepan Sagada offer the liver of a pig and wine to their ancestors' spirits and to Kabunyan and to protect them and provide blessings in return. Photo by Art Allad-iw

Among the Bontoks, their dead are entered in a paryong or family gravesite. Those who died from unnatural death like in accidents or murder were buried separately from the paryong, as these kinds of death were considered by the people then as “dirty.” Sometimes, they bury their dead in vacant lots close to their ricefield or near their homes, according to June Prill Brett as cited in the book “Ethnography of the Major Ethnolinguistic Groups in the Cordillera” by the Cordillera Schools Group (CSG).

Brett also as cited says that in Tucucan, Bontoc, a dead infant male is placed on the right side of the doorway of the parent’s home; while an infant girl is buried on the left side.

In Benguet, the Ibalois perform elaborate rituals and their dead kin is put in a crude coffin made of planks of wood, as the CSG cited Cecile Afable. The dead were brought to the burial caves, hence we have the burial caves in Kabayan and Mount Santo Tomas in Tuba, both in Benguet Province, added Kathleen Okubo, an Ibaloi. The Amliang Cave at the Mount Santo Tomas is one of the burial caves there, which has not yet been well advertised (desecrated) for tourism purposes.

A burial cave in Kabayan where mummified dead was among those buried in the area. Photo by Eddie Dapliyan 

A similar practice is also done in Buguias, Benguet. According to Arsenia Pinge, their ancestors placed their dead relatives in wooden coffins and were brought to the caves. As to children, they are put inside jars and were brought in the caves too. But when communities started to settle permanently, the dead infants were buried near their home.

A tattooed mummy in a cave in Kabayan, Benguet. Photo by Eddie Dapliyan 

In the rice-terraces popular province of Ifugao, they practice various burial methods. Social status, age and cause of death will determine the sacrifice of animals and length of wake, according to the CSG book.

CSG added that still born babies and mothers who died giving birth were immediately buried under their house without ceremony. After a number of years, the spouse or family may open the grave, take the bones and wrap these with a new blanket. Then the usual rituals for the dead are carried out before they bury the bones in the appropriate place.

I have to come across literature about the burial grounds of the Kalanguya, Isneg, Itneg and other ethnolinguistic groups in the Cordillera. But it is worth knowing where and how their ancestors buried their dead.

With this short piece, however, it shows that our ancestors have burial grounds where they brought their dead for eternal peace. It also explains why indigenous peoples in the region need not go to the burial area for their offerings or prayers. They believe that the spirits of their ancestors are with them. It is their custom to remember their ancestors as they call them every time there are rituals to join them in such occasion; and they call their ancestors’ spirits to protect them from any harm or accident, and to shower them with good fortune in all their endeavour.

A mambunong or indigenous priest reads the bile of an offered pig and offered prayer to their ancewstros and Kabunyan. Ex-Gov. Raul Molintas witnessed the ritual performed at ther Ibaloi Park in Baguio City. Photo by Arthur L. Allad-iw 

Even during times of gatherings, whether formal or not, there is the pitik performed before the start of any occasion. The same in a drinking session, the first shot after opening the bottle of drink would be the pitik, offered to unseen spirits to join them and protect those involved from harm so that they may live longer and buy more wine for them to share too.

It is therefore timely, a pitik for our ancestors, for the unseen spirits, and for Kabunian to guide us all and protect us from any harm. A pitik for prosperity! (Cheers!) # nordis.net

Cordi elders lead protest vs rights violations

October 26, 2014 in Baguio City, Cordillera, Featured by patnugutan

By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW and ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Cordillera elders in their indigenous attire, where men wear their wanes (loin cloth) and the women in their tapis (wrap-around skirt) joined at least 500 protesters from various Cordillera villages and rallied at the regional offices of the government agencies based here to demand a stop to the exploitation of their ancestral homeland and the pull out of military troops from their villages.

SUMIKAD KORDILYERA. Activists march from the regional office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) towards the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA). Photo by Rocky Ngalob

The protesters claimed that the state gave the go-signal for the exploitation of resources within their territories by allowing the entry of corporate projects, mostly mining and hydropower which they believe would destroy their homeland and undermine their culture.

These projects, they claimed, are coupled with military deployment, particularly in areas where there is strong opposition. Military presence they said led to various human rights violations, on their collective and individual rights.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance Secretary General Abigail Bengwayan-Anongos said the activity is dubbed Sumikad Kordilyera (Sumikad literally means to stand up for your rights) as a way of addressing the present situation of development aggression in the region. Development aggression occurs when the natural resources of the region are exploited by corporate interests at the expense of the already marginalized the indigenous people because such projects undermines their interests and welfare.

To facilitate development aggression, military troops are deployed in communities where these projects are to be implemented as designed under Oplan Bayanihan, the military policy of the present Aquino administration.

According to an elder, sumikad is an indigenous practice where oppressed people stand up against oppression. He pointed out that they need to stand up for the protection of their communities and children as the state oppresses them through projects that never benefited them as a people. He invoked that sumikad had been a time immemorial practice, like what their ancestors did in fighting Spanish colonizers, who tried to penetrate the interior Cordillera region.

The protesters rallied infront several regional offices of national government agencies to raise their opposition on government projects and policies they consider against their interests.
At the regional office of the Department of Agriculture, farmers raised that the liberation of the agricultural industry and the membership of the Philippines to the ASEAN Free Trade Association would be detrimental to the country’s agriculture.

Peasants led by Apit Tako held a picket at the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA). Photo by Rocky Ngalob

According to Andres Wailan, secretary general of the Alyansa dagiti Pesante iti Taeng Kordilyera (Apit Tako), Cordillera farmers’ products cannot compete with their counterpart from otherAsian countries as the latter enjoy government subsidy and are technologically advance. Filipino farmers, he said suffer from high input cost and backward agriculture practices. Protesters also raised the threat from proposed energy projects and mining applications in the region.

CPA data show that there are 88 hydro-projects, eight geothermal projects, and a windmill energy project are spread through out the region. Proponents of these said projects are mostly big foreign corporations, including Chevron.

With the liberalized mining industry, 67% of the region’s 1,829,369 hectare total land area is covered by various mining methods, according to the data from the regional office of Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
Anongos accused the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) of manipulating the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) to facilitate the entry of these mining and energy projects. She added that military troops terrorize villages where there is strong opposition to these projects.

Joseph Bagsao of the Cordillera Elders’ Alliance (CEA) said IP communities are living in fear when military troops encamp within their territories because of various human rights violations government soldiers commit against them. He said that in their experience, government soldiers will go to villages where people are actively opposing destructive development projects to intimidate and harass them to ensure that they will give their consent.

At the gates of Camp Henry Allen, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) raised that the military operations of 41st IB soldiers in Abra did not only terrorize the communities but barred them from attending to their sources of livelihood such as their farms and fields. The human rights group cited the cases of the Ligiws; Licuben, father and sons Fermin and Eddie who were allegedly murdered by the 41st IB soldiers in April.

500 strong activists from the different Cordillera provinces held a protest action at the gates of Camp Henry Allen on October 20. Photo by Noel Godinez

They also condemned the war crimes committed by soldiers belonging to the same army command during their military operations in September which include the killing of two civilians, deliberate assault against villages and torture of NPA rebels among others. CHRA also said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) target community leaders by including them in their “target lists” like what the 86th IB did to Ifugao leader William Bugatti who was later extra-judicially killed in March.

Cynthia Dacanay-Jaramillo demanded justice for the torture and desecration of the her husband’s remains adding that erring governemtn soldiers should be held accountable. She said the autopsy report of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearly showed that government troopers mistreated her husband. She is the wife of Arnold Jarmillo, one of the NPA rebels killed in the September military operation of the 41st in Lacub, Abra.

She said the killing of her husband is a violation of international humanitarian law. The case of her husband and other alleged NPAs, including two civilians, killed on September in Lacub, Abra by the 41st IB is now the subject of a legislative inquiry in the Congress.

At the office of the Regional Development Council here, the ralliest criticized House Bill 5595 that seeks to establish an autonomous Cordillera region.

Anongos said the House Bill being peddled by politicians in the region does not embody the aspirations of Cordillera people for a genuine autonomy as it failed to address the recognition of the indigenous peoples rights to own and control their land and resources.

She urged Cordillerans to heighten the struggle to protect their ancestral domain and push for genuine regional autonomy. # nordis.net