A mountain forest in the Cordillera (photo by Aldwin Quitasol, InterAksyon.com)
Bombing runs by military aircraft razed a forest and destroyed rice fields tilled by indigenous people in Malibcong, Abra, a human rights group claimed, denouncing what it called "state terrorism."
The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance, quoting reports from the Mabaka Banao and Gubang Tribal Organization, or MaBaGu, and a village official, said two military aircraft carried out air strikes in the hinterlands of the town on March 16, four days after New People’s Army guerrillas raided the town’s police station, seizing arms and ammunitions and then ambushed a reinforcement convoy, wounding five policemen.
MaBaGu told CHRA eight bombs were dropped in the morning and six more in the afternoon.
The group also quoted Antonio Ambalneg, councilman of Barangay Lat-ey, as saying three bombs were dropped in his village, destroying rice fields, pastures and a communal forest that caught fire. One of the bombs missed a farmer by 60 meters, he added.
CHRA secretary general Imelda Tabiando said the air strikes have affected at least 56 families, among who are close to 200 children. Elementary and high school classes in Malibcong have also been suspended since Monday and until March 20 as the military mounts operations against the NPA’s Agustin Begnalen Command.
It said Ambalneg had asked them to relay their appeal to end the bombings and military operations, and allow the children to go back to school.
http://interaksyon.com/article/137792/state-terrorism--air-strikes-raze-abra-forests-farms-rights-group-claims
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