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Philippines shootings wound local community

Organized by the Canada-based BIBAK and British Columbia Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP), the recent victims of political killings in the Cordillera were commemorated in a tribute held on September 3, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. Family and friends of victims Alyce Claver and Markus Bangit offered a special tribute in the activity.

The people of the Cordillera, Philippines are now living under conditions described by many as a “reign of terror”. The recent political killings and harrasment of community leaders of the Cordillera comes at a time of intensifying political killings and attempted killings, disappearances, unjust arrests, tortures, and gross human rights violations all over the country under Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

To date, there have been over 725 people killed, close to 200 civilians forcibly disappeared, and continuing arbitrary arrests committed under Arroyo’s military counter-insurgency campaign Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch). The overwhelming majority of the victims of Oplan Bantay Laya are leaders and members of progressive community organizations, like the Cordillera’s People Alliance (CPA), unions, human rights groups, and political parties, like Bayan Muna (People First) Political Party, asserting national freedom, social justice, democracy, and lasting peace in the Philippines.

Alyce Claver was gunned down and killed on July 31, 2006 in Tabuk, Kalinga. Her husband , Dr. Chandu, and daughter, Cassandra, were wounded in the ambush. Alyce was a native of Sagada Mountain province while Dr. Chandu is a native of Bontoc, Mt. Province, and is popularly known as a “Doctor of the masses.”

Markus Bangit was killed on June 8, 2006. He was the vice chairperson of Bayan Muna his home province, Kalinga. Markus was also a Malbong Tribal leader and is a native of Tomiangan, Tabuk, Kalinga. #

by: BIBAK and the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines

Vancouver, Canada