This is the statement (translated to English)
of the barangay officials of Bangilo district (consisting of three barangays)
on the recent AFP bombings in Malibcong, Abra that resulted to damages in
property and profound stress on two minors who were near the site where one of
the bombs exploded. They demand accountability on the part of the 503rd
Infantry Division of the AFP and call for the strict implementation of the
CARHRIHL.
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| AFP unit using a village school as garage for their vehicles |
Province of AbraMunicipality of MalibcongDistrict of Bangilo
(Barangays Umnap, Buanao and Lat-ey)
We, the indigenous peoples
of municipality of Malibcong, Abra, especially the people of Bangilo District(Barangays
Umnap, Buanao and Lat-ey), strongly condemn the indiscriminate bombings that
took place at thePugo rice field in Barangay Lat-ey on May 31, 2013 at 9:05 AM. We
confirm this data as true and against theradio DZPA live interview of Brig.
Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri on May 31,
2013. Iriberri is the AFP’s commanding
officer of 503rd Infantry Brigade. There is no truth to his statement that the
bombed area is 500meters away from the residential area. The
fact is the bomb exploded 40 meters from the hut of MatildeSacgragon
where, at that time, (name withheld), 14 years old and (name withheld), 17,
were gathering escargot atthe nearby rice field. Barangay Council Antonio
Ambalneg, who was at the area, helped the shocked and fearful victims. The
bomb exploded 170 meters from
the Hydro-Electric Power House and residential houses is 170meters. It
was 60 meters from Ponciano Culangan’s rice granary and 120 meters
away where Rommel Tenezawas plowing is 120 meters based on the measurements
made by the officers of the three barangays. We have inour
possession the“ bomb shells”
that we found in the area as proof.
Because we believe in the integrity of life, that people have rights to peaceful
society based on justice. It is
our duty to value and protect life that is the most important gift to us
from God and our land that we nurture and our source of our livelihood and
where God had set as forth. Our painful experience here in 2010
wherein the peoplewere harassed, especially the elderly and children when
indiscriminate bombings, strafings and this second experience of bombings strengthened our resolve to fight for our
right to seek justice. We do not like this incident to
happen again in the future as well as we do not like the military to get used to these abuses
and wrongdoings..
We would like to inform the perpetrators and all right- and
Christian-minded people that this incident is inviolation of the Comprehensive
Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian
Law(CARHRIHL), an agreement between the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and National Democratic
Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The violations of the AFP led by BGen.
Hernando Iriberri,commanding officer of 503rd IB
and Col. Danilo Domingo, commanding officer of 41st Infantry
Battalion is aclear violation of this agreement as stated in the following::
A. CARHRIHL Part III – Respect
for Human Rights – Article 2, No. 15 that states,“
the right not to be subjectedto forced evacuation, food and toher
forms of economic blockades and indiscriminate bombings, shellings,strafing,
gunfire and the use of landmines.”
B. CARHRIHL Part IV – Respect for International Humanitarian Law – Article 4, No. 4
that states,“
Civilian populations and civilians
shall be treated as such and shall be distinguished rom combatants
and, together with their property, shall
not be the object of attack. They shall likewise be protected against
indiscriminate aerial bombardment, strafing, artillery fire, mortar fire, arson, bulldozing
and other similar forms of destroying
lives and property, from the use of explosives as well as stockpiling
near or in their midst, and the use of chemical and biological
weapons.
Because
of this, we, the civilians, have the right to demand accountability and for
disciplinary actions against the party to the armed conflict that has perpetrated non-implementation
of the principles and guidelines of the International
Humanitarian Law as stated ni Part IV, Article 4, No. 5.
Therefore,
the entire municipality of Malibcong, including its officials in the three
barangays (Umnap, Buanao ,and Lat-ey), as well as the indigenous peoples concerned,
elders of Gubang Tribe, we affirm and solemnly swear the truthfulness of
this statement. Also, we express and affirm that there was no encounter with the NPA and AFP on May 31, 2013, and
there were no members of NPA here in our community. Farm clearing of
community folks in preparation for planting is ongoing. We affix
our signatures as affirmation.
Brgy. Lat-ey officials Brgy. Umnap officials Brgy. Buanao officials
Capt. Marcos Sangdaan Capt. Nestor Brilliantes Capt. Crispin Dagwat
Kgd. Antonio Ambalneg Kgd. Reynold Camarao Kgd. Leonida Paganao
Kgd. Carmelo Balucas Kgd. Lilia Masadao
Kgd. Pablo Manangbao
Kgd. Constantino Latawan Kgd. Loly Bagayao
Kgd. Raymond Bagni
Kgd. Placido Calagui Kgd. Lumen Bulaay Kgd. George Elvena
Kgd. Romando Bawalan Kgd. Vina Bulaay
Kgd. Violeta Dayag
Kgd. Basco Begnalen Kgd. Eduardo Sabado Kgd.Sebastian Mangoag
Kgd. Nestor Malaga Kgd. Reynaldo Bagwan Kgd. Bonifacio Lammawen
ASource: http://www.scribd.com/doc/147537787/Translated-statement-of-the-Barangay-Officials-of-Bangilo-District-on-the-recent-AFP-bombings-in-Malibcong-Abra
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