AN OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR BRAULIO YARANON
AND BAGUIO CITY POLICE OFFICE

Greetings of peace and justice!

The security and safety of the people in Baguio is also our deep concern. We are one with you in the pursuit of peace and order. We are all affected by the alarming increase of crimes in the city, which is a reflection of the severe social crisis.

However, we express great alarm about the plan to involve the notorious paramilitary group “Cordillera People’s Liberation Army” (CPLA) in some law enforcement functions in the city. We vehemently oppose any agreement allowing the CPLA to play any part in law enforcement.

The City Government of Baguio and the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) should be reminded of the bloody record of this armed group, which committed some of the worst cases of human rights violations and crimes against the people of the Cordillera. For more than a decade now, justice has not been served to the victims of CPLA atrocities.

Instead of rendering justice to the victims, successive post-Marcos governments from Aquino onwards chose to coddle this criminal paramilitary group. Rather than correcting the historic injustice, the Arroyo regime finally integrated the CPLA into the AFP, whose basis of existence is to protect the rights of civilians and duty-bound to uphold their human rights.

Let me cite some instances in the CPLA’s long record of criminal, mercenary and opportunist activities, which we in the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) have long exposed and criticized:

• the CPLA’s bankrupt ideas on Cordillera self-determination like “setting up a Cordillera nation” with a bodong government”;
• creating animosity between Cordillerans and non-Cordillerans with such pronouncements as “Cordillera for Cordillerans only”;
• actions of terrorist violence and intimidation against the unarmed peoples’ movement; and
• its mercenary deals with mining companies and other corporate interests, and positioning in government even though it is an illegitimate armed group.

When the CPA dared to expose and oppose such CPLA opportunist politics and crimes against the people, our leaders were persecuted and harassed. The worst were the murder of CPA Vice Chairperson Daniel Ngayaan in October 1987 and of CPA Coordinator in Abra, Romy Gardo in December 1987, as well as the following CPLA killings in Kalinga:

• Danny Tismo, 1987
• Santos Gunayon, 24 January 1988
• Quirino Ambasing, 28 September 1988
• Antonio Laguinday, 29 July 1989
• Cornelio Longan, 28 November 1989
• Martin Agnas, 30 August 1990
• Sabangan Massacre killing three children and wounding four, 26 May 1989

In a People’s Tribunal held by various people’s organizations here in Baguio in April 1988, more cases of criminal activity and human rights violations were filed against the CPLA. The Tribunal found the CPLA guilty of these crimes. The Tribunal might not be a government-recognized court of law like RTC’s or the Supreme Court, but it involved human rights lawyers and should at least warrant a second serious look into its records and recommendations.

Let us be reminded that in 1999, the CPLA was declared persona non grata in the city after startling the shocked public as they marched along Session Road in full battle gear and long firearms. Media people continue to harbor a strong suspicion that the CPLA was directly involved in the murder of Mr. Rey Pedronio, a Baguio-based journalist who consistently covered the CPLA terrors.

Instead of reducing crimes, involving the CPLA in law enforcement would be adding fuel to the fire. We might not be aware that in so doing, we would be reviving a monster that should have been punished and put away for good several years ago. Involving a group of terrorist murderers in law enforcement is dreadful.

Assigning law enforcement functions, such as intelligence gathering, to CPLA gives them the license to perpetrate terrorism and human rights violations in the urban center of the Cordillera. They don’t even respect the law if it is against their interests, so how would they enforce the law? We have so many problems relating to peace and order, so why create another problem which we can already prevent at the very start. At the very least, we should be very suspicious as to the ulterior motives of this criminal armed group in offering their “law enforcement” services.

Is it not an insult to the City and the BCPO to allow the bloodthirsty CPLA to interfere in the affairs of the city and, much worse, in police intelligence work and law enforcement? Is BCPO now willing to have its uniforms tainted with obnoxious CPLA filth and thus prove the saying, “Birds of the same feather flock together”? Yes, we need more effective law enforcement. If it helps to have more police visibility, as some City Councilors suggest, then so be it. But please weed out the unscrupulous men in uniform – and that includes the CPLA.

Too much crimes and other offenses have been committed against the Cordillera peoples in the past, and these injustices have yet to be corrected. We cannot afford another injustice. We demand justice for all the crimes committed by the CPLA. Let us not be deceived by the pseudo-voluntarism expressed by these fake peacemakers. The terrorist armed CPLA has to be barred from assuming any law enforcement function and impose a reign of terror on the city. The decision has to be made now before it is too late to return this evil zombie back to its grave.

As mandated, the BCPO takes the function of law enforcement. In no instance should it be used to legitimize the CPLA. It should handle the crimes if it would really exert more efforts in accordance with the people’s human rights.

We are very much aware of the unquestionable integrity of Mayor Yaranon, having demonstrated in the past his passion and wisdom in supporting the peoples’ demands and issues as a Councilor. With a new breed of leadership, Mayor Yaranon is now in a better position to execute what is right and just for the people of Baguio. Let not such courage and integrity be destroyed by the CPLA. #

Reference: Mr. Windel Bolinget
Secretary General
Cordillera Peoples Alliance