41st IB back in Baay-Licuan to act as security force of Pacific Olympus, Col. Raul Bautista an incorrigible liar, Lt. Sia-ed a mouthpiece and criminal
March 13, 2008
On March 4, 2008, Col. Raul Bautista, CO 41st IB, PA, was interviewed by a local radio station, DZPA. Col. Bautista had to explain to the people of Baay-Licuan and to radio listeners why the Alpha Coy, under 2nd Lt. Goway had been occupying barrios adjacent to Capcapo, Baay-Licuan, since late January, 2008. The Colonel said: "The 41st IB is in Baay-Licuan to drive away armed NPA rebels in the municipality, and not because of mining operations." Such a big liar!
In 2005, the HQ of C Coy, 41st IB was relocated from Baay-Licuan to Lagangilang Abra; it's Patrol Base at Sitio Bituen, Barangay Lenneng, Baay-Licuan was subsequently dismantled. The 41st IB was forced out by the people of Baay-Licuan after commiting a series of human rights violations. It will be recalled that a platoon of the C Coy 41st IBPA, led by Lt. Victor Leopoldo, was responsible for the death of Francisco "Ama Luyong" Tangbawan, and the forcible abduction of Junie Brillantes and Noriel Tuangin, on August 14, 2005. The said unit used the civilians as human shields during a firefight between the NPA and the 41st IB. Succeeding operations of C Coy, 41st IB in Barangay Lenneng and Libsong-Balawang resulted in a series of human rights violations such as destruction of crops, theft of properties such as cows and other poultry, harassment and intimidation. The people, along with officials of the reactionary government agencies and LGUs demanded for justice and the immediate pull-out of the 41st IB as a result of the series and systematic violation of human rights in the entire province. This fact is well-documented and is actually in the report of UN Raporteur Phillip Alston on extra-judicial killings and military abuses under Oplan Bantay Laya 1 & 2. Since then, long-range patrol operations from Lagangilang and San Juan have been conducted by the 41st IB in the said municipality.
And now, why is the 41st IB hell-bent in maintaining its intrusive presence in barrios adjacent to Capcapo? Why, despite protests from the local townsfolk due to the troopers drunkenness and public disturbances, is the 41st IB insistent that their presence is just meant to feel the pulse of the people?
Capcapo is the site of Capcapo Gold Property, a joint venture project of the Olympus Pacific Ltd. and of Abra Mining and Industrial Corporation. The people of Licuan registered their protests to the mining operations that started in the 1st quarter of 2007. The 41st IB have been patroling the nearby communities of Sucao, Manapnap, Domenglay, Masablang, Diangay, Magatotong, Mugao, Malnoog, Cawayan, Tamadi, and Poblacion Licuan for the past 1.5 months. So far, no firefights between the 41st IB and the NPA have occurred. It is the gold, and not the NPA, that attracts the 41st IB in Baay-Licuan.
To beef up the 41st IB's propaganda capability, a major component of the civil-military operations of the AFP and of their effort to forcibly operate mining activities, a criminal in the person of 1st Lt. Sia-ed have been re-assigned from the 54th IBPA, based in Mt. Province. 1st Lt. Sia-ed is now the spokesperson of the 41st IB and is now the mouthpiece of the fascists in the province. 1st Lt. Sia-ed was the CO of a unit of the 54th IB that killed Etfew Chadyaas of Belwang, Sadanga, Mt. Province, in August 2003. In their effort to hide responsibility in the killing of a civilian tribesman, the 54th IB insisted that Chadyaas was an NPA commander, killed in a legitimate encounter. The tribe rallied the people of Mt. Province and demanded justice for Etfew Chadyaas. The 54th IB was then forced to accept responsibility, and indemnified the family of the victim. But instead of prosecuting the criminal Lt. Sia-ed, he was transferred, promoted, and now ended up being the mouthpiece of the 41st IB. What a shame!
The Agustin Begnalen Command vows to uphold the interests of the people of Abra and will stand steadfast in their struggles. The ABC will likewise help the Leonardo Pacsi Command (NPA-Mt. Province) in giving justice to Etfew Chadyaas, the victim of 1st Lt. Sia-ed.
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