The Makabayan Coalition-Cordillera expressed grave concern over successive killings of civilians in Abra in relation to the 2025 campaign and election. In the past week alone, three incidents of election-related killings were recorded in the town of Bangued.

According to Makabayan, politically-related killings are not new in Abra because the families running the province and their rivals have their own private armies used for their political agenda.

“We call on politicians: Do not bring civilians in the middle of your political crossfire!” Makabayan Coalition-Cordillera spokesperson Imelda Tabiando said. She said the people of Abra are distressed because of this reality in the province.

Tabiando said that the series of killings and attacks clearly cause anxiety not only to people from Abra, but to the people of the entire Cordillera. She emphasized that this is inhumane and breeds a culture of impunity in Abra and the whole region.

Makabayan-Cordillera has long stood against “warlordism” in the region. As a result, they face political repression, threats, and human rights violations including Red-tagging.

The coalition called for unity among the people of Abra and Cordillera to demand justice and end the culture of impunity in the province. It also urged fellow Filipinos to support the Abra people’s struggle for long lasting peace.

At present, the Commission on Elections has placed three Abra towns under the “orange” category or areas with serious armed threat at the height of the election. Meanwhile, six other towns in the province are under the “yellow” category or areas with a history of violence during elections.