Cordillera Peoples Surge: Bravery Amidst Fascism

The recently concluded Manilakbayan with the Northern Luzon contingent Lakbay Amianan victoriously
and bravely confronted the BS Aquino administration and his armed forces on the issues of plunder of
natural resources, the dislocation of indigenous people and the fascist attacks that they experienced in
the hands of state security forces and paramilitary groups since 2010. While in a state of grief, victims of
human rights violations are at the forefront of the struggle drawing strength from the peoples collective
action to seek justice and peace.
Yes, they have wailed for their losses but are still raging amid the height of fascism. They vow to fight
until impunity ends. The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance will continue to stand and march with them.
Across the country, Aquinos counter-insurgency plan Oplan Bayanihan, patterned after and funded by
the United States Counter-insurgency Guide left orphaned children, widows, widowers. Parents lost their
beloved children. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate. This is the human rights record of
the blood-soaked regime that claims Tuwid na Daan, a record that speaks of Marahas na Daan.
Documented human rights violations committed under the Aquino regime.
TYPE OF VIOLATION

Extrajudicial Killings

Enforced Disappearance

Political Prisoners

Torture

Frustrated Extrajudicial
Killing

Rape
Use of Civilians in Police
and/or Military
Operations as Guides
and/or Shield
Violation of International
Humanitarian Law:
Torture, Willful killings
and desecration of
remains of NPAs
protected under
International
Humanitarian Laws

NO. OF VICTIMS
(NATIONAL)

304

27

561 (304 were
arrested under BS
Aquino

179
324
10
92, 260

NO. OF VICTIMS
(CORDILLERA REGION)

10

Mapukpukaw latta ni James
Balao 7 tawen kalpasan a naipila
ti Writ of Amparo
16 were arrested under B.S.
Aquino, 8 are still in jail

6

4
1
26

15

Not listed above are indigenous communities in the region who experienced bombings, indiscriminate
firing, forest burnings and military encampments within their ancestral domain, especially within
residential areas from the start of his term .
Further, peoples organizations and non-government organizations critical against government
destructive policies and programs continue to be persecuted; their leaders/members threatened,
harassed and intimidated. All these violations are the implementation of, Oplan Bayanihan. In social
media, the political vilification of progressive groups and individuals continue especially against the
Ifugao Peasant Movement. These are means to legitimize the attacks against activists. Alma Sinumlag,
her family, her community and the Cordillera Womens Education Action and Research were politically

persecuted.
Legitimate political dissent is systematically repressed and met with force, alongside with
the filing of trumped-up charges.
Indigenous peoples right to self determination have not been respected by the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in many incidents of manipulation in securing the Free, Prior, Informed
Consent of the people. Civilian functions such as development and humanitarian services are being
coursed through the military. Large-scale multi-national mining and the corresponding energy
requirement from hydropower dams, geothermal and wind facilities that goes with it remain as a priority
of the Aquino government, despite widespread resistance. Oplan Bayanihan has never been for the
service of the Filipino people.
Instead of bringing the perpetrators to the bar of justice, they have been rewarded for their human rights
violations. In the region, these are the 5th Infantry Division, and the 41st Infantry Battalion under the 503rd
Brigade.
So we ask in our rage, peace and development for whom? The implementors of Oplan Bayanihan the
5th Infantry Division in the region and the 41st Infantry Battalion under the 503rd Brigade have been
awarded rather than brought to the bar of justice. Definitely,
The regime has envisioned that towards the end of his term, the revolutionary movement would be
irrelevant. But the rampage of fascism attacking unarmed civilians would not render the revolution
irrelevant. On the contrary, it flares up the people to fight for their rights and for justice in whatever form
possible. In the words of elders adopted in an elders conference, rebbengen tayo a depensaan ti
ancestral a daga, iti anyaman a pamuspusan.
The Aquino regime and the United States government under President Barrack Obama were found guilty
of grave human rights violations at the International Peoples Tribunal held in Washington, D.C. last July
16-18. They were charged with the following:
1. Gross and systematic violations of human rights, particularly

civil and political rights, especially but not limited to extrajudicial killings, disappearances, massacres,
torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as other vicious,brutal and systematic abuses and attacks
on the basic democratic rights of the people.
2. Gross and systematic violations of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural
rights of the Filipino people through the imposition of neo-liberal free market globalization to exploit
the people; transgression of their economic sovereignty and plunder of their national patrimony and
economy; and attacks on the people's livelihoods and the destruction of the environment
3. Gross and systematic violations of the rights of the people to national self-determination and
liberation through the imposition of the US war of terror and US military intervention; as well as the
perpetration of crimes against humanity and war crimes; misrepresentations of the people's right to
national liberation and self-determination as terrorism and the baseless terrorist listing of individuals,
organizations and other entities by the US and other governments
His term will end in a few months, but the peoples surge for justice and peace will continue to haunt him
and his minions.
END IMPUNITY!
JUSTICE TO ALL VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!
PROSECUTE THE US- AQUINO FOR THEIR CRIMES AGAINST THE FILIPINO PEOPLE!
Cordillera Human Rights Alliance
December 10, 2015
For reference:
Imelda Tabiando, Secretary General
Mobile number: 09189199007