THE Cordillera People’s Democratic Front (CPDF) has urged the Aquino administration to release Kennedy Bangibang, a CPDF official and consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF) on Cordillera and national minority affairs.
CPDF Spokesman Simon “Ka Filiw” Naogsan said Bangibang was illegally arrested on February 23 by policemen at a checkpoint in Bangao Proper, Buguias, Benguet, along the Halsema Highway.
“A full-blooded Igorot and a member of the CPDF since the first quarter of 1987, Bangibang has fully grasped the deeply-rooted issues of the national minorities and is thus pivotal in the ongoing peace negotiations between the NDF and the government of the Philippines. His arrest and continued detention does not speak well of the so-called peace overtures of US-Aquino regime now much heralded in the media,” Naogsan said.
Bangibang, who hails from a remote village in the Cordillera, started as a youth activist and became part of a group of Cordillera college students from Baguio who integrated with the peasant masses in early 1987.
Naogsan said “[Bangibang] took part in the patriotic effort to expose and oppose the ringleaders of the renegade CPLA [Cordillera People’s Liberation Army] and its counter-revolutionary masquerades. From then on, he became a full-time underground activist and revolutionary leader.”
CPDF also condemned the Gestapo-like manner and illegal arrest of Bangibang by elements of the Regional Intelligence Unit–14 of Philippine National Police (PNP)–Intelligence Group under Sen. Insp. Rommel Saguilot.
“The culture of impunity ingrained in the PNP/AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] threw away the basic and proper requirements of making an arrest and proper conduct in police checkpoints. Saguilot did not identify himself at the checkpoint, if ever he was present. Although most were in police uniforms, the [policemen’s] name plates were missing. They handcuffed the suspect without first identifying their target and appraising the suspect of his constitutional rights,” CPDF argued.
The 51-year-old activist was handcuffed and dragged to a waiting jeep despite his protests and the plea of other passengers.
He was not served any arrest warrant.
“The national minority concern is among the issues to be tackled in the next round of peace talks, now centered on the aspects of drafting a Comprehensive Agreement on Socioeconomic Reform. Because of the arrest of numerous NDF consultants and the apparent insincerity of the US-Aquino regime, the negotiations have been stalled since February 2012. The arrest comes a day after the Royal Norwegian Government’s Team of Facilitators’ visit to Malacañang wherein the Palace reiterated its pursuit of the peace negotiations,” Naogsan said.
“Bangibang’s arrest and continued incarceration is another monkey wrench thrown to derail the continuance of the stalled peace talks. The PNP/AFP generals continue to be preoccupied with their monkey business of bounty-hunting. The pretentions of the US-Aquino regime to engage in peace talks is undermined by releasing P466.88 million of public funds for the capture of 235 revolutionary leaders. In reality, taking cue from the US Counter-Insurgency Guide of 2009, Oplan Bayanihan’s aim is to use the peace talks to force the revolutionary movement to surrender, a ploy that the NDF continues to thwart,” Naogsan said.
Meanwhile, the NDF in Rizal (NDF-Rizal) has indicted three soldiers belonging to the 16th Infantry Battalion for the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Rizal in 2011.
NDF-Rizal Spokesman Arman “Ka Arms” Guerrero said the indictment was handed down by a people’s court constituted in the province to try the soldiers, who were identified as Pfc. Alexander Barsaga, Pfc. Ronnie Castro and Pvt. Rocky Domingo.
Guerrero said the complaint against the three was filed in 2012 by concerned citizens who were appalled by the gang rape.
“With all these pieces of information, the prima facie evidence was established. Thus, the revolutionary movement formally indicts Pfc. Alexander Barsaga, Pfc. Ronnie Castro and PVT. Rocky Domingo for the abuse and the gang-rape of Erika, a 17-year-old high school student and resident of Sitio Radar, Pinugay, Baras, Rizal. Also indicted was the Commanding officer of the 16th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army for aiding and abetting his subordinate soldiers in their crime against the victim and his family under the guise of implementing Oplan Bayanihan (OPB),” Guerrero said.
“A warrant of arrest has been issued by the Revolutionary People’s Court ordering New People’s Army [NPA] units to arrest and bring the three soldier gang-rapists and their commanding officer to the People’s Court to face the charges against them. The arresting NPA unit is cautioned to prepare to defend themselves when serving the said arrest warrant because the accused are armed and dangerous. To hasten the arrest and prosecution of the indicted government soldier gang-rapist, we are calling the people of Rizal to inform the nearest NPA units and People’s Militias for any information on their whereabouts so that justice will be served,” he said.
The NDF-Rizal official also called on all women and child rights advocates to help and protect Erika and other victims of abuse and rape by government soldiers.
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