HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Relief of Kalinga Chief Cop Sought after String of Unsolved Killings

The head of Kalinga provincial police, Chief Supt. Pedro Ramos, is being sought after a supposed rash of unsolved killings including the ambush of Bayan Muna (People First) provincial chairman Dr. Constancio Claver and his family two weeks ago.

BY ACE ALEGRE
Bulatlat

La Trinidad, Benguet – The head of Kalinga provincial police chief Supt. Pedro Ramos is being sought after a supposed rash of unsolved killings including the ambush of Bayan Muna (People First) provincial chairman Dr. Constancio Claver and his family two weeks ago. Those who have called for Ramos’ relief from his post included United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues chairperson Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. She had personally asked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, and other security officials through a letter sent to them to relieve Ramos. Corpuz said the police director must be probed “for his possible role in these dastardly acts.” He should be removed from his post while the investigation is going on, she said.

DOCTOR FOR THE PEOPLE.  Chandu Claver with slain wife Alyce in an old photo

The UN official’s letter furnished also to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and Prof. Rodolfo Stavenhagen of the Geneva-based UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom of Indigenous Peoples also showed her “grave concern over the unabated political killings here in the Philippines.”

Rash of “unsolved” killings

A rash of alleged “extra-judicial killings” in Kalinga reportedly began when Ramos took over the police command from S/Supt. James Dugao on March 8 this year.

At least 16 civilians were reportedly killed and seven others were wounded in 12 violent incidents from March 7 to July 31, 2006.  

On March 7, women’s leader Mercy Gonzalo, husband Salvador Gonzalo and son-in-law Charlie Kadater were killed in Ubbog, Magsaysay, Tabuk while Albano Lay-og was wounded.  Exactly a week later, former Army trooper Alex Noval was killed in Nasgueban, Magsaysay, Tabuk. The next day, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Amor Gubiangan was shot to death at the gate of the Municipal Park in Dagupan Centro, Tabuk, a few meters away from the police station.

Then on March 17, Jimmy Dalire was shot to death at close range when he and his three-year-old daughter were watching a television program at their home in Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk. Less than a week after that, Gabriel Lumbican, barangay (village) captain of Calanan, Tabuk, and his father were shot to death along the way at Bulanao, Tabuk, a few kilometers between the camp of the 501st Brigade and Camp Juan Duyan of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Command on March 30.

Again on April 28, hooded men from a van gunned down Noli Siwal and Richard Agustin at Cawagayan, Pinukpuk town, also in Kalinga.

A month after, on May 29, Noel, the brother of slain NBI agent Gubiangan was mysteriously killed in Spring, Rizal. In that same incident, Elmer Gallema of Tuga,
Tabuk was also killed.

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.  Again on June 28, farmer Nicolas Dammay was shot in 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 in the Cordillera), a Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) affiliate.

On June 29, Army Sgt. Benito Balutoc was shot to death, and his uncle, Paquito Balutoc, was wounded at Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk.  The next day, armed men riddled with bullets the house of couple Orlando and Petrona Awingan in Barangay Limos, Pinukpuk town.

The latest of the rash of violent attacks was the ambush of the Claver family in Tabuk in which Alice, 42, the wife of Dr. Claver was killed.

The militant Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), the widest aggrupation of indigenous people’s organizations which claims a membership of over 150 groups and organizations in the Cordillera region is also calling for Ramos’ relief while holding him responsible for the rash of killings and violent attacks in the province. “We hold him responsible for the imminent danger faced by activists and concerned citizens of Kalinga and unless he is not pulled out immediately, together with his special forces, another killing may happen again,” said CPA secretary-general Windel Bolinget.

Bolinget said they are appealing to the provincial officials of Kalinga, the PNP leadership and Malacañang to immediately sack Ramos “in order to avoid more bloodshed in Kalinga.” Gov. Dominador Belac should approve the resolution of the Provincial Board on the relief of Ramos, Bolinget also said.

Complete backing

But the Cordillera police command has the complete backing for Ramos.

“To remove him for the sake of removing him is inappropriate,” Cordillera police spokesman S/Supt. Joseph Adnol said. “Superintendent Ramos is doing his best for the people and not only the few.”

Despite calls for his relief, the Cordillera police leadership seemed is not bent on  acceding to such, “unless the governor will recommend for his relief” or Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Raul Gonzales sacks him, Adnol explained. Removing him must be based on legal grounds, the Cordillera police spokesman said.

A highly-placed police official who asked not to be named however said it would be a good move of the PNP leadership to relieve Ramos from Kalinga “to at least clear the air” there.  It would be a good “confidence-building measure” especially among the Kalinga  folks especially those victimized on their confidence on the police, he said. Bulatlat

BACK TO TOP ■  PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION  ■   COMMENT

© 2006 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Media Center

Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.