July 10, 2006

The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) acknowledges and commends the Baguio City Council for making the stand to condemn the killing of political activists, which was manifested by its recent Resolution 109-2006 Condemning the Senseless Killing of Rafael Markus Bangit, regional Coordinator of the CPA Regional Elders Desk, and the Binodgnan Peoples Association (BPO), a federation of Cordillera tribes affiliated with the CPA. The resolution was introduced by Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez and was adopted by the Council on joint and collective motion.

This move by the City Council is both outstanding and commendable, as it is a step towards the nationwide call to stop political killings and expose the Oplan Bantay Laya, the AFP’s operational plan to dismantle and “neutralize” not only the armed revolution but also legitimate people’s organizations.

This undertaking is also a brave step the Council has taken amidst the impunity and silence of the national government over the unabated spate of political killings, which has reached 704 as of July 7, since GMA assumed presidency.

Staunch advocate of IP rights, tribal peacemaker
At the time of his assassination, Markus was the vice chairperson of Bayan Muna-Kalinga, his home province, where he started out as a political activist during the Chico Dams struggle. He was, from the beginning, a staunch advocate of indigenous peoples’ rights, always at the forefront of defending the collective rights of his fellow Igorots. He earned the respect of his tribe, the Malbong, and elders due to his skill in tribal war mediation, until he was himself a pangat (peacepact holder). He was the peacepact guarantor of his tribe and the Dangatalan tribe in Pasil, Kalinga.

As regional coordinator of CPA’s Elders Desk, he had been instrumental in the mediation of several tribal conflicts, such as the Betwagan-Bugnay tribal war, the Mabaca-Malbong and the Sallapadan-Belwang tribal conflicts. He met with tribal elders and leaders from all over the Cordillera region and helped build local alliances to strengthen the CPA’s elders work in various provinces, the most recent of which last year include the MAITUD (Movement for the Advancement of Inter-Tribal Unity) among Bontok and Kalinga tribes, and the UTAPD (Uma Tribal Alliance for Peace and Development) in Lubuagan town, Kalinga. He did not cease to further deepen his knowledge and understanding of the bodong (peacepact), including indigenous laws and practices to tighten inter-tribal unity

In October 2005, he served as a resource person to the consultation workshop of the Supreme Court Academy on Alternative Dispute Resolution, specifically on the topic of peaceful tribal mediation. He was even encouraged to apply as a mediator under the Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Supreme Court.

Standing challenge
It has been a month since Markus was brutally slain by still unidentified assassins in Echague, Isabela. It has also been that long since the Cordillera peoples’ movement, his tribe, clan, and family lost a great and humble leader, and to his family, a father and husband. The challenge therefore remains to pursue justice for Markus and to all victims of state terrorism. From its resolution, we strongly urge the City Council to join us in the quest for justice also for Romy Sanchez, who was slain March 9, 2005 in Baguio City, and condemn political killings in general. As political killings threaten our democratic rights and the very sanctity of life, we urge the Council to declare Baguio City as a free zone of these senseless political killings.

In the light of the Council resolution, we call on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) too to support us in our campaign to stop political killings.

We strongly call on all municipal and provincial governments in the Cordillera to stand against political killings, expose the Oplan Bantay Laya, and demand justice to all victims of the GMA administration. It is our duty to generate the public outrage against these senseless killings, and making an official stand against it would significantly count. Let us not wait for another life, another fellow Igorot to be felled by the assassin’s bullets because of his or her commitment to genuinely serve the people.

Justice for Rafael Markus Bangit and to all Victims of State Terrorism!
Respect the Sanctity of Life!
Stop Political Killings!

Reference:
Joan Carling, CPA Chairperson
Windel Bolinget, CPA secretary general