August 1, 2006

Tabuk, Kalinga, AUGUST 1. More than 150 members of the Kalinga Medical Society (KMS) and Kalinga Apayao Religious Society Association (KARSA) led a motorcade starting at 7:00 this morning in Bulanao, Tabuk. Before the motorcade, a program was held at the Bulanao junction, the site where Dr. Constancio “Chandu” Claver and his family was ambushed yesterday, July 31.

Dr. Chandu Claver and his wife, Alice, had just come from St. Tony’s College at around 6:45 AM on July 31 to send off their older daughters to school, when, upon taking a U-turn at the Bulanao Junction, two (2) Delica vans appeared from the sides of the highway and fired away at the Land Cruiser which Chandu was driving. Dr. Claver sustained multiple gunshot wounds while his wife Alice sustained four (4) gunshot wounds in the head, neck, and shoulders. They were both rushed to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Bulanao. Dr. Claver and Sandy survived the shooting while Alice was declared dead at around 12:30 PM.

Dr. Chandu Claver is the Vice Chairperson of the CPA provincial chapter in Kalinga and the Chairperson of Bayan Muna-Kalinga. He is also an active member of the Kalinga Medical Society. Alice, on the other hand, was a member of both CPA and Bayan Muna.

In protest to the said ambush, doctors in Kalinga have unanimously decided to indefinitely close government and private clinics and the out patient departments of government and private hospitals in Tabuk starting August 1.

The motorcade proceeded to the Kalinga Provincial Capitol where a program was held. Tabuk Vice Mayor Reinier Saroy gave a speech condemning the killing of Alice Omengan-Claver and the attempted assassination of Dr. Chandu Claver. The program was joined by employees of the Provincial Capitol. After the program, the motorcade proceeded to Camp Duyan, the main Philippine National Police (PNP) barracks in Tabuk for a dialogue.

KMS President Dr. Marlene Duyan, Bishop Renato Abibico, Pastor Agno and Father Philip Ubac of KARSA spoke before Provincial PNP Director Pedro Ramos and the PNP members present, demanding for speedy investigation of the ambush and justice for the Claver family.

Ramos appealed to KMS not to close clinics but KMS refused. He further informed that they (PNP) will solve the case. According to him, a task force has been formed for this purpose.

Also in a show of support to the Claver family, the Tabuk Municipal Council unanimously passed a resolution today condemning the killings.

Indignation rally held in Baguio City
In spite of heavy rains, more than 100 members of peoples organizations held an indignation rally led by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) at 5:00 PM yesterday, July 31, in Baguio City to express condemnation to the continuing political killings in the country. In the indignation rally held, CPA sought for justice to the killing of Alice Omengan-Claver and the assassination plot against her husband Dr. Chandu Claver.

According to CPA Chairperson Joan Carling, “President Gloria Arroyo and her military officials are accountable to the continuing political killings and threats to activists as gross violations of the fundamental right to life and security of all citizens which is their sworn duty to uphold and protect.”# Sarah Dekdeken, CPA/Public Information Commission