This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com).
Vol. VI, No. 28, August
20-26, 2006
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
UN Official, CHR Call for Investigation of Sacked Kalinga Police Chief
Even
as controversial Kalinga police Chief Supt. Pedro Ramos, was relieved from his
post to create a “climate of trust” between police investigators and relatives
of victims of political killings, calls for an investigation on his alleged
involvement or negligence in the spate of killings in the province remain.
BY
ACE ALEGRE
Bulatlat
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (250 kms north of Manila) – Even as controversial Kalinga
police chief Supt. Pedro Ramos, was relieved from his post to create a “climate
of trust” between police investigators and relatives of victims of political
killings, calls for an investigation on his alleged involvement or negligence in
the spate of killings in the province remain.
Cordillera police spokesman Supt. Joseph Adnol who earlier said that Ramos was
doing a good job in Kalinga explained that the Cordillera police leadership
decided to “ship out” Ramos “to remove doubts regarding the conduct of the
investigation of the (Claver) case as he is being accused by some sectors in
Kalinga for alleged negligence in the investigation of the case.”
The controversial police director earlier earned criticisms over a rash of
unsolved killings including the July 31 armed attack on Bayan Muna provincial
chairman Constancio Claver, his wife Alice and their 11 year old daughter
Cassandra. Alice, 42, died while Claver remains hospitalized.
Ramos’ relief was also sought earlier by various groups here and abroad
including United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues chairperson
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, a Cordilleran, who sent a letter to President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo, Defense chief Avelino Cruz, and other security
officials.
Tauli-Corpuz pushed for a probe on Ramos “for his possible role in these
dastardly acts.” The UN official also furnished a copy of her letter to the
Commission on Human Rights, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Commission
on Indigenous Peoples and Prof. Rodolfo Stavenhagen of the Geneva-based UN
Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom of
Indigenous People.
CHR chairman Valera Quisumbing has also ordered the investigation of Ramos and
some of his men after receiving a complaint from Lanie Gubiangan, who said that
the police allegedly tortured and killed her husband Noel Gubiangan and his
companion, Elmer Gallema in May this year.
Rash of unsolved killings
Meanwhile, Damian is faced with the task of solving the rash of alleged
“extrajudicial killings” in Kalinga that reportedly began when Ramos took over
the police command from Senior Supt. James Dugao in March 8 this year.
At least 16 civilians were reportedly killed and seven were wounded in 12
violent incidents from March 7 to July 31, 2006.
On June 8, Bayan Muna Kalinga vice chairperson Rafael “Markus” Bangit and school principal Gloria Casuga were shot to death at San Isidro, Echague town, Isabela by hooded killers. Bangit’s family believed the killers trailed him from Tabuk town.
On June 28, farmer Nicolas Dammay was shot and hit on the left arm in his house at Malagnat, Pinukpuk. The assailants mistook him for his brother Tomas, a regional council member of the peasant group Alyansa dagiti Pesante iti Taeng - Kordilyera (Apit Tako or Alliance of Poor Peasants - Cordillera), a Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Alliance of Peasants in the Philippines) affiliate. Bulatlat
© 2006 Bulatlat ■ Alipato Media Center
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