11 brgy chiefs want CHR help over NPA acts

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — Eleven barangay captains of Igbaras town, Iloilo the other day were able to ask for help from the Commission on Human Rights–Region 6 to stop the NPA rebels from imposing on them on what to do with military forces.

Barangay Chairman Demetrio Esteta of Pinaopawan, however clarified that seeking help from the CHR-6 was not an act of condemnation of the NPA. “We believe that they (rebels) also did some good to us but, this time around, we want the CHR to meddle and tell them (rebels) to let us have our own free will (on the military),” he said.

Esteta stood as leader of the Quipot Area Coordinating Council, an organization of Igbaras’s cluster of barangays: Pinaopawan, Igcabugao, Tigbanaba, Passi, Bagacay, Binanua-an, Corucuan, Lab-on, Bagay, Bugnay and Igtalongon.

The complaint of the barangay leaders referred to a letter sent a month ago by the NPA telling them not to accept military forces that will go to their respective places. The NPA also demanded them to disallow the soldiers to use their houses or brgy halls for whatever purpose it may be.

“We could not do that. Just like us, the military is part of the government. They did nothing wrong to us. If we have food, we could offer it to them. In the same manner, if the NPA would ask us for food, and we have something to give, they could also ask from us,” Esteta added.

The barangay chairmen were also alarmed over the ambush shooting of Christopher Echalar, 36, a resident of Brgy. Bagacay and an 8-year-old girl last December 8.

Echalar was driving his motorcycle after bringing his son to a school in Brgy Tigbanaba when a group of four armed men fired at him. He was not hit however but farther down the road, he saw a girl who took cover in the bushes. “I immediately stopped and carried her to my motorcycle,” he said. The girl was not hit also, but was in shock due to the bursts of gun fire.

Echalar believed he was not the group’s target, but could be a certain Sir Pang, a soldier who has physical similarities with him.

What happened to Echalar caused the December 9 encounter with the NPA at San Remigio, Antique that resulted in the death of a Cpl. Absalon Labitan, team leader of the 12th Cadre Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division, and two members of CAFGU Active Auxiliaries.

The government troops were on a peace and security patrol in the area where a group of about 25 rebels, led by a certain alias Jojo, engaged them in a 15-minute gunfight. (FREEMAN)