That the Mountains May Chant the Truth
August 5, 2006 in Cordillera, human rights, indigenous
THAT THE MOUNTAINS MAY CHANT THE TRUTH
(A Cordillera Statement Calling for a Stop to Extrajudicial Killings)
Once more, bullets silenced another small voice.
The ambush of the family of Dr. Constancio “Chandu” Claver, in the morning of July 31, 2006 near the Police Headquarters in Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga is repugnant. Chandu, the “people’s doctor” was seriously wounded, and Alice, his wife was killed, and their daughter is traumatized. Such atrocity has never been so real in the Cordillera until these recent months.
We, in the Cordillera have always cherished freedom and held it as essential to full humanity. This unflinching belief has helped us maintain our dignity all these years of government neglect, social marginalization, political isolation and economic deprivation. We fought for it.
We take pride in the fact that it shaped the ethos that binds the indigenous people of the Cordillera and links them with other indigenous peoples here and abroad. The ambush of the Clavers and of Marcus Bangit before them is alien to the culture of the people in the Cordillera.
We condemn the ambush of Dr. Claver’s family. The assault of unarmed civilians in public places is a manifestation of a rotten social order. It can only be motivated by a desire to perpetuate fear, subservience and maintain a state of repression.
The killings are deliberate and systematic, planned and executed only by those who have the means and capacity to undertake such atrocity with impunity and sophistication.
We believe that peace and justice is possible if the reasons for dissent and civil unrest are sincerely heard and addressed by those who hold power. At the core of democracy is a government that submits to the processes so painstakingly instituted to protect and ensure the welfare and interest of the majority of the citizens over and above all else.
We deplore the killing of people simply because of their political beliefs. This horrendous decimation of perceived “leftists” sends a chilling message that democracy is interpreted only by those who wield power. People in the Cordillera have demonstrated in the past that we cannot be cowed by any power to speak peace and surrender our freedom.
Wherefore, we now stand firmly united and demand that Government muster the political will and sincerity to put an immediate stop to these killings, find the perpetrators and mete justice.
We affix our signatures voluntarily and with fervent prayers and hope that political decency and moral uprightness will sweep clean the corridors of powers in this country. Let that small voice reverberate to the far reaches of this country and across the seas to swell the crescendo of the cry for justice and peace.
FORUM FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IN THE CORDILLERA
5 August 2006
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Signatories during the wake
(not alphabetized for now) |
Andrew Chokawen Eliza Parunga Matthew Tauli Anastacia Mapang Nelda Ortega Joy Osong Zoraida Banasa Wilma Daluping Farima Gunaban Ely Banasan Natividad Taw-ing Boy Norag Shirley Buenarente Shirley Anne Apaling Silvestre Wansi Jane Mercado Rose Chomey Jane Mogao Paula Sagandoy E.M. Banasan M. Singson Mary Tauli Lucille Lumas-i Ester Tecni Rose Moldero Burly Manyo Samuel Bayangan Maxie Capuyan Elis Guerrero Nellie Ag-agwa Tito Wangdali Thelma Acdang Charlie de la Cruz Florence Liban Lumen Blancas Florence Ay-en Reynald Velasco Theresa Page-it Martha Merite Joseph Bolinget Nancy Busacay Christine Wangdali Eduarte Olarte Hilaria Basiyo Lucky Edzel Rafanan Mike Wingnga Shirley Anne Apaling Bevao Roque Lincoln Lizardo Baticao Regina Helen Binguit Anacio Akien Jacqueline Tudlong Getty Angway Noryn Busacay-Bagano Olivia Panutan Patricia Lubiano David Yawan Betty Apil Feliza Apil Maria Capuyan Godelina Gomgom-o Agnes Bagto Judith Bula-at Mirasol Bagangan Hilda Tegui-ing Naty Bolinget Rosita Lasabug Magdalena Biaga Pedro Bangit Edward Fangloy Davis Dapliyan Jaime Dugao Norma Madongit Lourdes Pacyaya Ann Okubo Clyde Caocao Tony Baggay |
Ignacio Akien Frederick Longid Daril Longid Beatrice Belen Virgie Saga-oc James Madongit Eugene Bolinget Josephine C Taclobao Johnny Sawadan Marilyn Pecua Frederick Pecua Franklin Omengan Jenaro Bula-at Franklin Baniaga Harry Busacay Joseph Calpi Mae Sangga Joylyne Malasi Jade Angngalao Roque Beyao Shirley Ann Apaling Antoni Ramos Jaime Yapeo Florence Danguitan Stephen Tauli Gladys Faith Comaad Benny Lingbawan Robert Ganon Bannon Abibico Joel Calpi Jav Gacuya Sonny Versoza Felix Capuyan Roger Lambino Christine Banganan Oliver Jayugan Donna Villamor Sarah Dekdeken Georgina Velasco Elvira Lengwa Penny Reyes Ghumie Pingkihan Weng Lay-og Bertha Banganan |
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Signatories in Metro Manila Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes Lesley Capus Mervin Toquero Robin Bulag Ernani Diacos Gilbert Lozada Febie Castro Ada Somebang-Baguilod |
Liza Lamis Ian Ileto Almond del Rosario Ofelia Gregorio Minne Anne Calub Winston Reyes Mary Chrismina Galera Rex RB Reyes, Jr Silahis Diloy-Ramos |
Fr. Dave Bitos Pastor FG Mercado Msgr. Alfonso Talay Kelly Lawig Domingao Anosan Sr. Marvic Destacamento Tyrone Edward Beyer Richard Gadit Mai Andin Bernice Bunolna |
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Signatories through the Internet, updated as of 9 Oct. 2006
Jerry Abeya (Mt Province; New Jersey USA) Flor Abul (Baguio City) Mila D. Aguilar (Manila) Bart Alatan (British Columbia, Canada) Arthur Lapaan Allad-iw Caroline Umaming Allad-iw Elmer Apacway (Benguet) Joseph Apacway (Australia) Fred Asiong (Benguet) Ray Baguilat Jr. (Ifugao) Ben Baniaga (Mt Province; Quezon City) Agnes Barroga Brian Batong Andrew Winston Q Bayating Teogenes Bernardez Jr. (Mt Province) Daisy Bobeck (Baguio City) Mila Borje (Texas USA) Michelle Budaden Daniel Cagan Melchora Chin (Mt Province; Australia) G. Farnaw A. Claver Cheryl L. Daytec Elvie Olsim Della (Benguet) Ellen Dictaan Andrew Dompao (Texas USA) Grace Dumaguing Joan Duyan (Mt Province; Kalinga) Brenda D. Fiag-oy (Baguio City) Johnny Fialen (Mt Province) Willy Galas Noel Godinez (Manila; Baguio City) Dee Hunt (Brisbane, Australia) Stevenson Kiat-ong (Mt Province) Erwin Killip (Mt Province) Ernest Killip (Mt Province) Errub Killip (Mt Province) Jet O. Kollin Lerma C. Lapnawan (Kalinga) Daisy Leones (Baguio City) Michelle Magranga Lynn B. Macalingay (Mt Province) |
Esther Marshall (Tabuk, Kalinga; New Jersey USA) Suligam Grace Marshall (Tabuk, Kalinga; New Jersey USA) Jodea Pearl S. Martin (Kalinga) Lily Mendoza (Denver, Colorado USA) Manuel F. Na-oy Kim Ngabit Quitasol (Ifugao) Jocelyn Noe (Mt Province) Leni Nolasco Evelyn Padua (Ifugao; Benguet; Australia) Sandre Padua (Australia) Janet Palangchao (USA) Rose Pala-og Beverly T. Pekas Maricel Polon (Abra) Giovanni Bete Reyes (UP Diliman) with comment Lambert Sagalla (Mt Province) Leona Sagalla (Mt Province) Joel Saracho (Quezon City) Rev. Cesar T. Taguba (Ibaloi; Netherlands) Joan L. Tenda Rolanto Tolentino Bing da Veiga Ellen Velasco (Dagupan City) Jun Verzola (Abra; Baguio City) |
Note: The signature campaign is on-going. This list is being updated at least once a week. If you want to sign, or to modify the info included with your name, please use the comment dialogue box of this blog entry to enter your name, comment, and any other contact info you want to include. You can also sign by sending the same info thru email to cordi@yahoogroups.com and cordillera86@gmail.com
Note 2: This petition is mirrored at http://cordillera.schtuff.com, and can also be accessed (with a different set of signatories) at http://sagada.net. We will later integrate the sets of signatories into one to remove duplicates.
Please include my name in your list of signatories.
Please do include my name in your list.
I want to be signatory, please include me.
include my name in your list, abra
Please do include my name in your list of signatories.
Please include my name in your list of signatories.
Please include my name in the list of signaturies.
Thanks!
Let us not go silent. RAGE and CRY freedom and justice.
Please include my name in you list of signatories.
Let us continue our culture for peace and justice..let every mountain-pantheon echo our chant for justice!
Kabunian Bless us all..
please include my name in your list of signatories.
Please include my name in your list of signatories
Include me in your list. Thanks~!
A lot of things happened in the past. Its best if we keep peace for the future of our chilren.
Its not yet late. Please include our names: Arthur Lapaan Allad-iw and Caroline Umaming-Allad-iw. Thanks
we call on everbody especially our kakailians to stand up, condemn and remain to be vigilant in exposing all human rights violations.
Please include my name in your list.
To Manang Alyce (whom I met after her death),
They snuffed out the life force within you
but the seeds of discontent and enlightenment
germinated as your flesh joined the earth
In life thousands never held your hand;
in death you are there in their hearts.
The revolted throng is siwftly trooping
to the thorny trails you sauntered.
Your courage paralleled by those who
have gone ahead is their weapon.
From my distance, the narrow long road
has been widened by meters and bounds.
Youth has quickly blossomed by years
adept to unscramble conundrums of tragedy,
one day after dressing up dolls and draining
the power of battery-operated toy cars.
The debilitated resolve of the mass consigned to hunger and disease is revivified.
The voices muted by fear and hopelessness
now demand every ear to listen, every arm to
act, every heart to feel and every mind to grasp.
Alyce, your death accomplished that.
Alyce, Alyce, listen to the throng.
They are all there wanting a piece of you.
They want a piece of your cause.
Your killing is senseless but your death
is purposeful.
Thank you, Manang Alyce. You died that we who are in the here and now will live.
I submit my name for inclusion into the list of those who condemn your death, but draw strength from it.
joanna jet
Interesting post. I came across this blog by accident, but it was a good accident. I have now bookmarked your blog for future use. Best wishes. Joanna Krupa.
Justice for Claver Family and Justice to all the victims…Mabuhay ang Mamayang Pilipino….. fight our rights as a Pilipino! Serve the People
Filipinos in the Philippines and overseas will not let go the call of the Claver family and of the other victims and their families, i.e. — Justice!
Please add me to the list of signatories. Salamat ho.
please add my name to the signatories. thank you.
I think that name “Jaime Yapeo” to the signatories during the wake is my name because I was there. Unless a certain Jaime Yapeo do exist, but I am sure that is supposedly Jane Yapeo. Please do the necessary corrections though late but it means a lot to me.I was there to show my deepest condolences to the family and my support to condemn that evil and demonic act to Dr. Chandu and family.
Thanks