Soldiers swoop down on Kalinga group’s HQ

TABUK, Kalinga — Soldiers reportedly swooped down on the headquarters of a people’s organization here last Aug. 10 and tore down posters of the Bayan Muna party-list group, a human rights activist said.

Members of the Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion, led by a certain 1Lt. Del Rosario, allegedly barged into the multi-purpose hall in Tomiangan, Barangay Dupag where the Tomiangan Unity for Progress and Action (TUPAC) holds office.

Jimmy Suwagon, a human rights desk officer of the Cordillera People’s Alliance, which advocates issues involving indigenous groups in the region, said the soldiers searched the premises, tearing down Bayan Muna calendars and posters posted on the walls.

Suwagon claimed that a soldier even pointed his gun at TUPAC secretary Roger Lagansi.

After the search, soldiers allegedly forced TUPAC officers to sign a certification that they (the soldiers) did not do anything wrong in the community, otherwise they would not be allowed to go home.

TUPAC president David Wanagon, vice president Lando Kub-ao, treasurer Esoy Awing, auditor William Banutan, and member Leo Casing were present during the incident.

Three weeks ago, residents of Barangay Tanglag in Lubuagan, Kalinga petitioned the provincial government to drive away soldiers from their village for allegedly committing human rights abuses.