Bunang
and the Pulahanes
By PEDRO CABRALES
November 19, 2006
“SHE MUST have been a
good-looking lady with Spanish-mestiza features, a great and wonderful
person, who was one of the important leaders of the Pulahan
Movement in Samar during the period of American occupation in the
country.”
This is how UP-Tacloban
Professor Daniel Talde finds as a vivid description of Bruna Fabrigar
who was Samar’s Joan of Arc during the period of resistance to the
American regime in the Philippines.
“Bunang”, as she was
popularly called, was described as a kind, religious and legendary
woman,” based on the accounts of people interviewed by Talde in 1999.
“Her kindness showed herself in the way she helped the mountain people
in their miseries; she was an herb-doctor; she used leaves, bark, and
roots,” they went on to say. “She must have been efficient in
healing,” according to another source. “Because the people flocked to
her daily in great number; because of her efficiency the people
believed she had magical power and a strong anting-anting,”
according to the Journal of History, 1959.
In describing her role
in the Pulahan Movement, the Journal of History
mentioned that she was one of General Vicente Lukban’s resistance
fighters in Samar. She was, the book mentions, “an incredible Pulahan
member.” The interviewees recalled that in one of the encounters with
the Americans, “Bunang never got hurt when a gun was aimed at
her, and that in actual combat or battle, Bunang would not escape.”
They said further that, “she would just shield herself with her skirt
when bullets were aimed at her.”
The above-mentioned
narrative was one the papers read during the 27th National Conference
of the Philippine National Historical Society conducted at the Leyte
Normal University on October 26-28, 2006. With its theme: Revisiting
Visayan Historiography, Revisioning Philippine Historiography, most of
the papers highlighted the role of the Visayas region and its people
in the history of the Filipino nation.
Talde’s paper is based
on an historical research conducted in 1999 which employed first-hand
interview among a number of the elders in Paranas, San Jorge and
Motiong. He also corroborated his findings from dozens of public
documents, books, research journals, unpublished materials,
newspapers, and he even used the internet for some of his references.
The LNU Conference
which was attended by more than a hundred participants – historians,
book writers, social science and history professors and officials from
local government units (LGUs) discussed twelve papers covering a wide
range of topics from ancient church bells, religious missionaries,
Japanese atrocities in World War II, and to subjects like Spanish-era
town planning and the Visayas region.
Historical method of
research provides essential knowledge about the roots of a society and
its culture. In her book, Research Methods, PUP professor Dr.
Custodiosa Sanchez, cited the importance and necessity of using such a
method in “understanding life because it traces past events that are
stored and uncovered even centuries later and linkages are established
which were not evident then.” Techniques used to establish validity
in the use of historical method in research are known as external and
internal criticisms. External criticism looks into the authenticity
of historical documents and relics, while internal criticism refers to
the degree of objectivity and competence of the researcher.
The conference
organizers headed by Dr. Bernardita Reyes-Churchill encouraged the
participants to write history particularly local history. According
to her, “the study of local history provides the foundation and
substance of the true national history. In talking about the benefit
of studying local history, she says that it “provides us with the
documentation and analysis of those broad processes which are
important in shaping the quality of life of a people.”
Bunang and
other significant figures and events in our past come to our minds
only through historical research. If more people, particularly the
Warays, would study their history and culture, they would then,
perhaps, aid in providing a more meaningful knowledge as well as a
richer understanding about themselves and their society. Facts from
history are there to help people plod on along more positive endeavors
for their futures.
Concerted attack on
human rights groups must be strongly resisted
A Statement by the
Asian Human Rights Commission
November 17, 2006
"The worldwide campaigning on extrajudicial killings in the
Philippines is growing rapidly and creating a very negative impression
of the country..."
In what appears to be
a concerted attack on the entire human rights movement in the
Philippines, army, civilian and police officials have all made
scathing statements describing the work of rights groups there as
"propaganda".
On November 15 group
of retired and active senior army officers in the Philippines declared
that Amnesty International members should be barred from the country
for accusing the military of being behind extrajudicial killings. The
influential Association of Generals and Flag Officers said in a
resolution that the human rights group had documented incidents based
upon the testimonies of militants, and that its allegations were
biased. The declaration against Amnesty has reportedly been endorsed
by the armed forces.
Meanwhile, in another
report, a senior official accused rights groups of spreading
"propaganda" about the killings for political purposes. The aggressive
defense of the government by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye followed an
unprecedented appeal by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the
Philippines, warning that the ongoing violent attacks could affect
investment. The press secretary also specifically named local group
Karapatan as responsible for spreading untruths, and said that his
government would "sit down with foreign investors to give the facts".
In a further report,
Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Avelino Razon
Jr. also claimed that Karapatan had greatly inflated the number of
killings, and incredibly, compared the work of the group to that of
Nazi Germany: "The group is adhering to the Nazi propaganda lines of
consistent lies, distortion of objective facts, continuous lies and
half-truths made popular by Hitler's propagandist Goebbel during World
War II." Ironically, the deputy director general is the head of Task
Force Usig, the main unit inside the police force investigating the
killings.
Although ridiculous,
these statements by the army and government should not come as a
surprise. The worldwide campaigning on extrajudicial killings in the
Philippines is growing rapidly and creating a very negative impression
of the country and its administration in the minds of millions both at
home and abroad. It will be special cause for alarm that
businesspeople have now joined the chorus of voices against what is
happening there.
The attacks are
clearly aimed at intimidating all human rights groups working in the
Philippines. In fact, they constitute a threat to the entire human
rights movement. In targeting Amnesty, a large and
internationally-renowned group, the military generals have made clear
that anyone else could be next, if they too attempt to document and
report on the incidence of killings and other gross abuses.
Ultimately, these are
much more than simple reactions to the latest reports of domestic and
international rights bodies. They are manifestations of an extreme,
deep-rooted bias against human rights defenders. This resistance to
human rights standards, and bias against persons who work to achieve
them, is also manifest in the persistent denial about the extent and
nature of the killings that the government is being called upon to
address. That denial is most obvious in the fact that there has been
no real political will – only pretences, under growing pressure – to
end the killings through explicit public commands to police and
military authorities.
The Asian Human Rights
Commission (AHRC) calls upon the government of the Philippines to
unequivocally denounce the resolution passed by the Association of
Generals and Flag Officers against Amnesty International, require the
police to justify its outrageous statement comparing a local rights
group to the Nazi regime, and publicly retract the remarks of its
press officer. It again calls for the government to place as its
highest priority the ending of extrajudicial killings, and to order
all policing and military agencies to do the same.
The AHRC demands
effective investigations of the hundreds of killings, attempted
killings and abductions that are known to have occurred in recent
years, including those since the start of October that have already
been reported to the authorities: Dr. Rodrigo Catayong, chairperson
Karapatan in Eastern Samar (killed); Reverend Billy Austin, head of
the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) in Ilocos Sur
(attempted killing); Eduardo Millares, member of the urban poor group,
Samahan ng Magkakapitbahay sa Tabing-Riles (Association of Neighbours
along the Railroad) (killed) and his companion (attempted killing);
Father Dionisio Ging-Ging, Philippine Independent Church (killed);
and, Bishop Alberto Ramento, Philippine Independent Church (killed).
The struggle for the
victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines is no less than
the struggle for the survival of democracy and some notion of the rule
of law there. The country is at a critical juncture. The people of the
Philippines deserve full international support and attention to ensure
that their struggle obtain the support it needs in order to overcome
the forces of violence, militarism and authoritarianism.
BAYAN and its sectoral
groups are CPP’s puppet!
A Press
Statement by the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD)
November 10, 2006
The deafening silence
of the so-called “progressives”, “militant”, and “activists” on the
violations of human rights and other international conventions on the
protection and preservation of life committed by the Maoist communist
CPP-NPA-NDF only shows that they are one and conjoined by the same
ideology, intentions, and interests.
These sectoral
organizations never raised the issue on the following high profile
violations committed by the Maoist communist NPA:
Unabashed and
continued recruitment of minors by the CPP-NPA to fight the government
and its security forces. The NPA’s use of minors to kill soldiers and
civilians has been blatantly displayed in public view. Revelations by
arrested NPA and those who returned back to the folds of the law
vividly shows that recruitment of minors are easily done because fear
can easily be instilled and minors immediately cowers under the pains
of being killed once they refuse. The treacherous murder of an unarmed
soldier in a market place in Kananga, Leyte, in front of the victim’s
family is living proof of the Maoist communist reprehensible
character. The many minor NPA warriors killed during military
operations and NPA attacks have been undocumented because withdrawing
NPA guerrillas bring along their dead or wounded comrades. Yet these
sectoral groups, particularly KARAPATAN and BAYAN have manifested
strong support and adherence to the many international conventions
that prohibits the use of minors in all forms of warfare.
The ban on the use of
landmines by several international agreements is blatantly violated by
the NPAs resulting in the injury of many civilians in Tago, Surigao
del Sur; and other parts of the country. Their claim of using
command-detonated land mines only was greatly demolished when a PNP
personnel was blown to pieces after stepping on a landmine, in
Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, recently. Nonetheless,
the same revelations by arrested NPAs or surrenderees showed that
indeed the NPA is committed not to comply with the international
prohibition statutes because the different CPP-NPA-NDF fronts, all
over the country, are stockpiling more than enough quantity of
landmines, detonating cords, and blasting caps to be used against
government and civilian targets.
The unabated sexual
abuse committed by many NPA commanders against women guerrillas
remains and continue to happen without sanction from their so-called
leadership. This shows the low state of morality that the Maoist
communist CPP-NPA-NDF is founded and stands on!
The murder of
civilians, especially those who refused to tow the Maoist communist
line; their own peers whom they perceived to be military informers or
government spies; and many leaders and members of their own sectoral
organizations suspected to be counter-revolutionaries, continues. Yet
these sectoral organizations have the gull and heart to put the blame
on the government instead of sending a loud cry of protest against the
real perpetrators – the Maoist communist CPP-NPA-NDF! For this reason
alone, they refused to cooperate by submitting their so-called
evidences and proofs to the appropriate agency tasked to investigate
these murders. Rather, they resort to black propaganda to fan the
flames of hate against the duly constituted government institutions of
our country.
BAYAN and all of its
sectoral organizations are like puppets hanging on the string awaiting
their masters’ like Jose Ma. Sison, Luis Jalandoni, Fidel Agcaoili,
Jorge Madlos, and others, to pull the strings for their acts to
commence. Simply put, when the CPP leadership orders them to stir the
community’s emotions against the government, just like any dog eager
to please his master, BAYAN’s tail easily wiggles in compliance!
For quite sometime,
the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) has warned all peace
and freedom loving Filipinos to be wary against the malevolent designs
and character of the Maoist CPP-NPA-NDF. Nevertheless, ANAD is now
comfortable that BAYAN and all the sectoral organization under its
umbrella have thrown away the cloak of deception and lies that they
had been putting on since its inception in the early 80’s.
Now the line is drawn
between those who would really stand for the defense and preservation
of our country’s democracy and freedom as against those whose sole
vision is to foment chaos and economic destruction leading to our
country’s democratic demise and replacing it with a dictatorship by
the ruling communist elite.
Condemnation letter on the
brutal assassination of Dr. Rodrigo O. Catayong of KATUNGOD-ES from
the Secretary-General
November 5, 2006
We, in the regional council
of the human rights alliance KATUNGOD-Sinirangan Bisayas condemn in
the strongest possible terms the assassination of Dr. Rodrigo O.
Catayong, PhD., chairperson of the human rights group KATUNGOD-Eastern
Samar and professor at the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) just
this morning in front of the Catholic Church in the town of MacArthur
of Eastern Samar province while attending the morning mass.
According to reports from
our counterpart in Eastern Samar, he sustained seven (7) gunshot
wounds in the head.
Dr. Catayong is a known
peace-loving citizen, an advocate of human rights and civil liberties
in the province of Eastern Samar. He served as KATUNGOD-ES chairperson
for several years now since his election to the post in 2001.
He was among the 31 men and
women who were listed as liquidation targets of the Samar Leyte
Anti-Communist Movement (SLACM). Such list was divulged by Agustin
Docena, a member of the Regional Development Council (RDC) at the
Tacloban Convention Hall, Kanhuraw Hill, Tacloban City last September
21, 2006 during the visit of Secretary Saludo. Agustin Docena is the
public sector representative of the RDC. It can be recalled that
letter-threats were given to progressive group members by SLACM in the
past.
The “liquidation list”
includes the name of Agustin Docena himself (a member of the Eastern
Samar Coalition of NGOs and POs). Others listed were the mayor of
Borongan, one public grade school teacher, three (3) professors from
the Eastern Samar State University including Dr. Catayong, several
leaders of the progressive party-lists, a policeman and a local media
man. They were listed as members of the leftist groups like Bayan Muna,
Anakpawis and Gabriela or as supporters of the CPP-NPA, or their
contacts who according to them “have done sins against the people (nahimo
nga sala kontra han katawhan)”. All those listed were from the
province of Eastern Samar.
The list was signed by a
certain Ka Hector of the SLACM. SLACM is believed to be connected to
the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(CRS-AFP) because of their joint rallies and joint activities in
various areas in Leyte and Samar. Thus, culpability can be exacted
from the hierarchy of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine
Army, now headed by Major General Rodrigo Maclang who extends both
administrative and operational control over the 8th CRS-AFP Civil
Affairs Unit.
When the list made public,
the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) was quick in alleging the list
was a handiwork of the New People’s Army (NPA) in their article which
appear in the website of
www.samarnews.com entitled “Alleged NPA
liquidation list sows fear among those included” as if to cover up the
terror being sowed by this PA/AFP-backed liquidation group.
Thus, we are holding the 8th
ID PA responsible for this recent brutal killing as in the previous
incidents of summary executions.
We are calling on the all
peace-loving Filipinos, Samarnons and people of Eastern Visayas to
oppose and condemn this incident of killing and all other
state-sponsored human rights violations.
Dr. Catayong is the 90th
victim of political killing in Eastern Visayas since the assumption
into office as president of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo since 2001.
This is a systematic phenomenon happening under the present
administration.
We enjoin the Commission on
Human Rights (CHR) to make a thorough investigation on this incident
and all the 89 other victims of extrajudicial killings in region. The
CHR should extend help to the victims that they found justice amidst
the climate of injustice and terrorism perpetrated by the soldiers of
the AFP and the Arroyo regime.
JUSTICE FOR PROF. RODRIGO
CATAYONG!
JUSTICE FOR ALL THE VICTIMS
OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!
STOP THE KILLINGS IN EASTERN
VISAYAS AND IN THE PHILIPINES NOW!
Yours
truly,
In defense of the rights of
the people,
ALEX GARCIA LAGUNZAD
KATUNGOD-Sinirangan Bisayas
Secretary-General
read related news:
Eastern Samar rights activist killed
Government makes sure
that no projects are imperiled by rebels
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November 4, 2006
"...the cost of doing projects in the Philippines has risen because of high insurance costs and
"revolutionary taxes" or tributes demanded usually by communist
rebels."
The Administration’s
assurance to the investment community that security forces are focused
on making sure that no development projects are imperiled by the
communist rebels, is a statement of a fact.
Together with this
assurance must come the declaration that the security forces are
focused on meeting this challenge alongside a strong effort to strike
at the roots of insurgency through high impact social and development
programs.
A study of the Japan
Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) revealed that the cost of
doing projects in the Philippines funded by official development
assistance (ODA) has risen because of high insurance costs and
"revolutionary taxes" or tributes demanded usually by communist
rebels.
Indeed, it is a
glaring truth that the CPP-NPA is not only engaged in terrorist acts
against facilities and installations of vital service to the people,
it is also robbing communities of jobs and livelihood by scaring
investments away and perpetuating abject poverty.
The government’s
sustained offensive against the CPP-NPA is designed to cripple its
extortion machinery and to stop once and for all the scourge of their
so-called revolutionary taxes.
Many are the news
about the success of the Philippine National Police and the Armed
Forces of the Philippines in their intensified the efforts of the
government to neutralize if not eliminate the threat of extortion by
the insurgents.
The successful
campaign of the military against the CPP-NPA is largely due to the
cooperation and support of the local residents who have come to
realize the real intentions of the double-faced insurgents.
Amid reports that the
extortion activities of the communist rebels jack up the cost of
infrastructure projects in the
Philippines
and are a nagging drawback to the campaign for more investments, the
Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police
have resolved to double or triple their intensified campaign against
the insurgents.
The security team has
teamed up with the economic team to synchronize a balanced campaign,
and the administration has the full support of the Local Government
Units and the people on the ground. The government is gaining slowly
but surely each passing day.
Quality education, a
tool in the fight against poverty
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October 26, 2006
