CPLA officially integrated into the AFP
The Macapagal-Arroyo regime has officially integrated the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA) into the AFP. Macapagal-Arroyo herself approved the integration in a ceremony in Tinglayan, Kalinga on September 1. The event was celebrated as though it were such a big and propitious one.
The CPLA was set up with former NPA forces deceived by Conrado Balweg through his anti-plains line. They split from the Party and NPA in April 1986, taking with them several firearms of the NPA. According to the traitor Conrado Balweg's distorted line, everyone from the plains and who was not a national minority was an enemy of the Igorots of Cordillera. Since then, almost all of the initial elements from the NPA have gone and been replaced by goons. The few remaining former NPA elements, who were all lumpen in character, have become the goons' chieftains.
The CPLA has long served as a paramilitary arm of the AFP and PNP, as Civilian Armed Auxiliaries of the CAFGU. The Cordillera Indigenous Peace Keeping Unit (CIPKU) of the faction led by Mailed Molina and James Sawatang of the CPLA is but another name for the CAFGU in Bucloc, Abra and Tinglayan, Kalinga. The Cordillera People's Militia (CPM) of the Modesto Sagudang faction of the CPLA is but another name for the vigilantes of Tubo, Luba and Langiden in Abra. The AFP and PNP often bring them along during military operations against the NPA and its mass base, in providing protection for the operations of illegal logging syndicates, in planting marijuana, transporting drugs, extorting from businessmen and the people, harassing and intimidating civilians and in other criminal and lumpen activities.
They also launch operations against the NPA and its mass base as well as criminal operations such as illegal logging. They likewise serve as hired killers and private armies of reactionary politicians and big mining companies. Along with their criminal and lumpen activities, they foment and exacerbate conflicts between tribes. Many of these lead to tribal wars, such as those which erupted between the Betwagan and Butbut tribes and the Saclit and Butbut tribes.
It comes as no surprise that the government has integrated the CPLA into its mercenary army. All things considered, nothing has changed with respect to their character as goons. But only a few of them will be taken in as soldiers and receive higher pay. Most of them will remain as CAFGU elements whose low salaries are milked by their leaders and high officials of the AFP or continue as lackeys of their leaders and in the vain hope of becoming AFP regulars.
Due to the CPLA's formal integration into the AFP and their use of this as license, the CPLA can be expected to perpetrate even more evil. They will all the more be exposed, hated and isolated from the broad masses of the Cordillera.
Crimes of the CPLA
In Kalinga:
- Conrado Balweg, the leader of the CPLA who was meted punishment, himself admitted to abducting and killing Daniel Ngaya-an (Cordillera Bodong Association chair, regional CPA leader and a panglakayen or tribal leader of Lubuagan) in Barangay Tanglag, Lubuagan, Kalinga in October 1987.
- A CPLA unit based in Balbalan and led by Dimas "Willy" Tibag killed two leaders of Barangay Salegseg, Santos Gonayon, 61 (January 24, 1988 in Sitio Tawang, Salegseg) and Quirino "Lasi" Ambasing, 50 (September 28, 1988 in Sitio Tawang, Salegseg) as well as a leader of Barangay Gawaan, Martin "Lumidaw" Agnas, 50 (August 30, 1990 in Sitio Dusoc, Gawaan). The victims were respected panglakayen.
- Another CPLA unit in Balbalan in cahoots with local PNP and CAFGU elements, killed Antonio Laguinday, a barangay health worker, in Barangay Balantoy, Balbalan on July 21, 1989.
- A CPLA unit waging a patrol operation in Barangay Dupag, Tabuk massacred innocent children in Sitio Sabangan, Dupag, Tabuk on May 26, 1989. Killed were Betty Layugan, 2; Mitchi Lagansi, 3; and Simian Molina, 14. Four other persons were wounded, including one who was suffering from a psychological illness.
In Abra:
- It was also the CPLA that abducted and killed Romy Gardo (a youth organizer of the CPA in Abra) in Barangay Tiempo, Tubo, Abra on December 28, 1987.
- The CPLA killed by firing squad two farmers, Jonathan Bisnan and Tito Babasa, in Bucay, Abra.
- The CPLA likewise murdered Benito Dang-aw of Tubtuba, Tubo, Abra in 1987.
In Mountain Province:
- Pagpag Afarag of Barangay Can-eo, Bontoc was tortured and killed in Barangay Bekigan, Sadanga, Mountain Province in 1988.
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