December 10, 2016

THE FILIPINO PEOPLE WILL PERSEVERE FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

Human rights have long been trampled upon with impunity. The people had high hopes for changes
with the new leadership in the country, challenging the State and the Duterte administration that the
way to build a just society is to not compromise peoples rights and human dignity.
The war on drugs that has taken on the form of extrajudicial killings fails to address the drug problem
and other problems in society. The killings and wanton human rights violations under Operation
Tokhang are not the solution to the social ills, nor should these be recognized as achievements.
It is even more condemnable that the seeming justification of this war on drugs is now being used to
silence legitimate peoples dissent.
The blood that has been spilled in the country and the consciousness that enemies of the State are
outside the protection of human rights have made the mark of injustice run deeper in our society. This
is evident with the continuing enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and militarization.
The ruthlessness of OPLAN BAYANIHAN continued under President Rodrigo Duterte and amplified .
State fascism remains worrisome despite President Duterte renewing the peace negotiation with the
National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), accommodating leftists in his cabinet and with
public pronouncements of his brand of socialism and anti-American imperialism. While 17 NDFP
consultants were released on bail, President Duterte is holding more than 400 political prisoners
hostage to the forging of a bilateral ceasefire in the peace talks without addressing the roots of the civil
war.
We decry the path that the Duterte administration is taking and call on him to listen to the people and
be grounded to the peoples reality and not continue his politics of accommodation for the oligarchs,
whom he has vowed to challenge in his term.
Where is Peace, Mr. President?
Continuing violation of ancestral territorial rights and militarization of indigenous communities
Occupation of communities by AFP troops did not stop despite the back to barracks order by
President Duterte in August and the governments declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.
In Ag-agama, Western Uma in Lubuagan Kalinga, the 50th IBPA remained encamped in civilian houses
since October 2015. Civilians bear the atmosphere of fear with drunken soldiers roaming around
sporting their guns and on several occasions, indiscriminately fire their guns in the community. A
number of civilians encountered soldiers aiming their guns at them. The presence of soldier/s in civilian
houses are sources of worries and discomfort. Several girls and ladies, including married and pregnant
women have been subjected to various sexual advances. Women and girls hesitate to use the only
available public washing and bathing areas as soldiers are using these. Divestment and destruction of
crops and properties are common. Several women leaders were summoned to report to the camp as
they were in the roster of the AFP. As several soldiers and CAFGU belong to binodngan tribes, the
residents are forced to be cautious in dealing with abuses because of fear of tribal vendetta. On the
contrary, the government forces seem to be unmindful of igniting tribal conflict.
In Sallapadan, Abra, in September, while conducting patrol operations in search of the New Peoples
Army, the 24th IB encamped in residential communities. The soldiers even announced that the
unilateral ceasefire has already lapsed.
In Ifugao, from July to September, around 300 soldiers from the 54th IBPA and 77th IB CAFGU
conducted military operations in Tinoc and Asipulo where they set up patrol base in the elementary
school and occupied houses in sitio Cocoy, Barangay Tukucan. Similar AFP community occupations
were reported in Cervantes, Quirino and Tubo.
The AFP justifies the occupation of communities as civil-military operations or non-combat military
operations. Such pretext as non-combat operation is an acceptance by the AFP that intruding in
ancestral territories is intended in combatting peoples resistance. The areas of perennial military

occupations are areas targeted for large-scale mining and hydropower facilities that are being opposed
by affected communities.
Meanwhile, Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company and Benguet Corporation continue to operate
despite the suspension order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in
September 27. According to the DENR audit, both companies have been violating environmental and
mining laws. Affected communities meanwhile blame the 2 mining firms for land collapse, sinking,
siltation and pollution, apart from the historical crime of land grabbing ancestral lands. While the DENR
suspension did not include Philex Mining Company, the firm remains accountable for looting natural
resources and its unsound mining infrastructure.
Continuing Detention of Political Dissenters
Nine political prisoners continue to languish in jail. The latest victim is an ailing 72-year old Marcos
Aggalao of Balbalan, Kalinga, who was arrested in September. Three prisoners - Eduardo Esteban
from Jaro, Iloilo and Virgilio Corpuz and Rene Boy Abiva both from Cagayan Valley, never set foot in
the Cordillera but are now on their 3rd year of imprisonment for trumped-up charges of murder and
frustrated murder.
Continuing political persecution and curtailment of the right to assembly
Leaders of the Ifugao Peoples Movement (IPM) continue to face political persecution systematically
being conducted by the 5th ID PA. They remain listed in the 5th IDs Order of Battle. They are
frequently being harassed with various forms of political vilification and threatened with lawsuits and
warrants of arrest. The persecution of IPM leaders is associated with the opposition against the 350megawatt hydroelectric project of SN Aboitiz in the Alimit River. The project will affect at least 9
villages in the ancestral territory of the Ayangan and at least 80 villages downstream.
State fascism against peaceful political dissent is emboldened. National minorities, including the
delegation from the Cordillera, were violently attacked by Police forces while protesting at the US
embassy to express their objection over the continuing intervention of the US in the Philippine
patrimony and internal affairs, including the US-instigated OPLAN BAYANIHAN. The protest at the US
embassy is part of the convergence of Moros and indigenous peoples gathered in MetroManila for the
Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya para sa Makatarungang Kapayapaan at Sariling Pagpapasya.
Police Officer Franklin Kho, who rammed the police mobile into the ranks of protesters, nor Chief
Superintendent Oscar Albayalde, NCRPO chief, the commanding officer and his men from the Manila
Police District have not been held accountable.
Impunity
President Benigno Aquino III ended his term in June 2016 leaving behind the brutality of OPLAN
BAYANIHAN inflicted against communities, peoples organizations and the advocates supporting them.
He remains liable for the human rights violations during his term. Aquinos human rights legacy is the
unparalleled extrajudicial killings and violent persecution against the lumad in Mindanao. In the
Cordillera, Aquino III emboldened the brainchild of his mother Corazon Aquino, the Cordillera Peoples
Liberation Army by having it renamed and granted millions of funds for so-called socio-economic
projects. Further, Aquino is responsible for the 11 civilians extrajudicially killed by the AFP in the region.
Among them were the 3 members of the Ligiw family who were vocal against mining; Ifugao human
rights activist William Bugatti, development worker Engineer Fidela Salvador, and farmer Noel Viste
from Lacub, Abra.
With the Philippine governments conduct of war. International Humanitarian Law was brutally violated
with the non-protection of civilians and the willful killings of 15 members of the New Peoples Army in
Tineg and Lacub, Abra. For willfully killing wounded and captured NPA combatants, the 41st IBPA of the
5th Infantry Division was rewarded rather than held accountable
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, now unjustly cleared of her accountability from plunder, now remains scotfree. She remains accountable for her crimes against the people including the enforced disappearance
of James Balao and the extrajudicial killings of Markus Bangit, Alyce Omengan-Claver, Jose Doton,
Albert Terredano, Pepe Manegdeg and Romy Sanchez, and at least 6 farmer-hunters in the Cordillera
region under Oplan Bantay Laya.

This human rights week, it is the height of irony, that General Ano is named Chief of Staff of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines. His hands are blood-stained with the enforced disappearance of Jonas
Burgos and his long list of human rights violations.
The efforts to restore death penalty without changing the decrepit justice system is another strike
against the people.
Where is Justice, President Duterte?
Historical Revisionism and Martial Law
Justice has to be accorded to hundreds of Cordillera activists tortured, raped and incarcerated, killed
and forcibly disappeared under Martial Law - Tingguians resisting logging operations who were
tortured, killed and internally displaced; hundreds of Kalingas resisting the Chico River dam who were
tortured and jailed in Camp Olivas, Pampanga; Ifugaos who were hamletted and many more.
Historical revisionism has been systematic since the day the Marcoses were judged and ousted by the
Filipino people.
Each President after Ferdinand Marcos, was just a change of name. Nothing has been substantially
done to address the needs and welfare of the people.
And despite the adoption of the law on Martial Law Reparation and Recognition as early as February
2013, former President Benigno Aquino III failed to officially recognize and grant reparation to the
thousands of victims of Martial Law. President Duterte further added insult to injury by allowing the
burial of Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani as a favor to the Marcoses.
Our Calls
As we commemorate the 67th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we continue to affirm
the lessons and sacrifices from the peoples struggle that have defined and continue to enrich human
rights.
We remember that it is in the darkest night that we, as a people, need to be our bravest.
Repression can be faced with organized resistance. We can confront fear with courage and reclaim
human dignity even in the darkest and most difficult times.
We will continue to work for peace and justice. We will continue to assert our right as national
minorities to resist national oppression. We will continue to struggle against imperialism, feudalism and
bureaucrat capitalism.
The people will persevere.
Itigil ang Pasistang Atake sa Mamamayan!
Hustisya Para sa Biktima ng Diktadurang US-Marcos!
Panagutin si Benigno Aquino at Lahat ng Rehimen sa Kanilang Paglabag sa Karapatang Pantao!
Duterte, Manindigan Para sa Mamamayan!
Makibaka Para sa Kapayapaan!
For reference:
Atty. Reynaldo Cortes
Chairperson
CHRA
Imelda Tabiando,
Secretary General
CHRA