Chandu Claver's Case

I am Dr. Constancio Claver, a native Filipino of the Igorot tribe, who has been working as a physician-surgeon among the people of the remote province of Kalinga located in the Cordillera Mountain Range of Northern Philippines for the past 22 years.

On July 31, 2006, after dropping off my 8-year old child at her school, we were savagely ambushed by two unidentified men while we were entering a crowded intersection in the center of town. Jumping out of a speeding van, they poured 38 deadly projectiles into us from two M16-type high powered rifles before fleeing with the same van.

As a result, my wife sustained seven gunshot wounds which resulted in her death six hours later despite heroic efforts of a skilled surgical team. I myself sustained three gunshot wounds resulting in severe damage to my left arm as well as my liver, stomach and intestines. My 11-year old daughter luckily escaped with a head scratch. No determined efforts were done by the police despite their capability to do so.

I am the chairperson of Bayan Muna – Kalinga Chapter, a party list political party pushing for basic social changes in the Philippine society through the electoral arena. In the 8-week period prior to the ambush, we were subjected to intimidation, death threat through text message, and smear campaign. I believe that this is the handiwork of still unidentified agents of government.

My case is not an isolated case. It is only one of about 800 cases of extra-judicial killings which have been happening under the regime of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo since 2001. The killings have occurred in all regions of the Philippines, especially in the priority counter-insurgency areas of Bicol, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog. The victims come from all walks of life – mostly farmers and workers but also a very significant number from the middle class – professionals, journalists, and church workers including a bishop. But despite their diversity, they share only one thing in common – they are either members or leaders of peaceful organizations fighting for basic changes in society and for the full recognition of the rights of the Filipino people.

In the Philippines, more and more people, from the poor and the middle class, have initiated petitions and street actions to protest and condemn the systematic killings. Diplomats have stood up and have openly showed their disapproval to the killings. Several countries have come up with statements of condemnation regarding the brutal killings. Even large foreign companies in the Philippines, as well as the foreign Chambers of Commerce have publicly declared that Gloria Arroyo should step in and order a stop to the killings.

But all these have been of nought. The killings continue at a rate of 3 victims per week. That is why I have written this letter. I believe that the only way to stop the killings is through concerted information dissemination to Filipinos as well as all peoples of the world. Through this, we hope to apply pressure on the Arroyo government to truly and finally address this issue.

Its present efforts through the so-called Task Force Usig and the Melo Commission have suffered from a lack of credibility. For example, the last report of Task Force Usig dated last November 30, indicated that the authorities have arrested and formally charged a suspect named Jessie Caranto in my case, when in fact there was evidence that the suspect was just a fall guy. This has led many to believe that the other suspects also charged by Task Force Usig may be in the same circumstance.

We appeal to all, to please disseminate this information. If each of us does this to his neighbour, co-worker, friend, or relative, I believe that this will help build up a wave of public opinion enough to pressure the Philippine government to actively step in and stop the killings. With God’s guidance we will overcome.

More at http://www.pinas-first.com/Chandu.php

Killing of priest affects tribal relations

Tabuk, Kalinga – The Killing of Roman Catholic priest Fr. Francisco Madhu, 31, in Mabungtot, Lubuagan, this province, on Palm Sunday has strained the relations of the Mabungtot and Lubuagan tribes.

According to reliable sources, the Mabungtot tribe is presently demanding two carabaos from the Lubuagan tribe as penalty for the violation of their bodong or peace pact cause by the murder.

The source said that two of the suspects in the shooting to death of Madhu, and Indonesian, are Lubuagans and that the third suspect is a mestizo Mabungtot and Tanglag (Lubuagan) but is a resident of New Tanglag, Tabuk.

Charges have already been filed against the three but they are still at large.

The sources said that one of the carabaos is for the violation of the dimok provision of the bodong while the other is for the figurative spilling of the food eaten by the priest in Mabungtot.

Under the dimok principle, harming a guest of a tribe is a grave offense.** Estanislao Albano, Jr.

Wacnang clears self on Diasen killing link

In a bid to clear speculations that a political angle is one possible motive in the gunning down of Vice Governor Rommel Diasen, Congresman Laurence Wacnang vehemently denied any participation or knowledge into the tragic incident that befell the gubernatorial bet.

"I have been always advocating clean politics ever since I delved into this democratic activity and for what reason will I be destroying that good image? I think some personalities are riding on with the incident to gain political advantage and if s sad to say that they are doing it at the expense of ones death," Wacnang bared.

Wacnang is appealing to all political leaders not to exploit the case of Vice Governor Diasen to gain political mileage.

Wacnang emphasized that politics should always be played fair and square. Politics in Kalinga according to the Congressman has been relatively peaceful and that's one thing we should be proud of. Politicians should not stain that good picture by asserting that the recent unfortunate events have something to do with the political exercise.

Wacnang said that upon arrival from a meeting with the President in San Fabian, Pangasinan he called on the elders to arrange with the bereaved family for possible avenues to clear his name.

He further said that "if the traditional way of clearing doubts through the sapata is acceptable then I am more than willing to do it even in front of the cadaver."

Just as he appealed to concerned people to cooperate with the investigation being conducted by the police authorities, Congressman Wacnang is optimistic that in the coming days the details of the investigation will make clear the real motive on the killing of the vice-governor. (This news article by Regie Wacas appeared in Guru Press, April 16, 2007)

Diasen's killing: Test of PNP's resolve

The killer of Vice-Governor Rommel Diasen has already been identified. Now comes the hard part: arresting the suspect and unmasking whoever might be behind him.

Two days after the killing of Diasen in Barangay Magnao on April 7, authorities broke the news that the suspect had been identified.

Diasen, an independent candidate for provincial governor was gunned down at high noon while delivering a speech at the Magnao barangay hall by a lone gunman. He was declared dead over an hour later as doctors vainly operated on him.

The suspect, Joel Melod, 18 and a resident of Magnao, is a Guilayon native and is believed to be a relative of Tabuk Mayor Camilo Lammawin Jr.

A high-ranking police official based here informed the Guru Press that Melod remains on the loose and might no longer be within Tabuk.

The officer said police and some members of the Guilayon tribe earlier spoke to the father of the suspect to arrange for the peaceful surrender of the suspect but the father informed the group that he did not know his son's whereabouts.

The source added that the father, himself, wanted to find out who gave his son the gun he allegedly used to kill Diasen, a native of the Maducayon tribe of Paracelis, Mt. Province but married to a daughter of the Guilayon tribe whose territory includes Magnao.

Initially, the theory was that Diasen's killing might have been connected with the murder of regionally trial court judge Milnar Lammawin, elder brother of Mayor Lammawin, sometime in August 2004. Diasen and former Tabuk mayor Basilio Wandag, whom the younger Lammawiri trounced in 2001, were then suspected of having masterminded the judge's killing.

Earlier, a relative of Diasen and Wandag, who served as Lammawin's driver, was killed allegedly by one of the mayor's security in the mayor's company while on their way back to Tabuk coming from Tuguegarao City. The dead driver's brother and two other relatives reportedly chanced upon die late judge parked in front of a bakery by the national road and fired upon him with an M-16 rifle.

A string of failures

Though Diasen's killing is considered solved by the police with the identification of Melod as the primary suspect, there will be a lot of unanswered questions until the alleged triggerman is arrested.

Kalinga police have a proven record in identifying suspects a poor reputation when it comes to getting them behind bars. To date, the judge's killers have yet to see the insides of a jail for their crime. No suspect in the massacre of Charlie Kadater and his parents-in-law, Salvador and Mercy Gonzalo, has been arrested so far. The same may be said of several high-profile killings in the province for the past three years and back.

A clouded picture

Despite the statement of police authorities, national media outfits tried to paint Diasen's killing as politically -motivated. Rep. Laurence Wacnang, Diasen's rival for the gubernatorial position, went on record to deny that he had anything to do with his rival's killings.

With Diasen dead, Wacnang's return to his old position was virtually paved for him as the third candidate is criticized for not having any serious intention of winning. Wacnang held the reins for the provincial capital from 1988-1998 before moving on to Congress for three successive terms. (This news article by Bani Asbucan appeared in Guru Press, April 16, 2007)

Wake-up! Oh, wake-up! Wake-up call

(Speech of Bishop Prudencio P. Andaya during the burial of Fr. Franciskus Madhu)

I stand before you here in grief as I carry the burden and the sentiments of my people in the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk (comprising the civil provinces of Kalinga and Apayao) sentiments that were brought about by the violent death of Fr. Francis Madhu, S.V.D. Now we have come to pay our last respects to a missionary of God!

Francis, as we fondly called him, was a good-natured man, so affable and friendly, yet so bashful and reserved. His smiles that radiated in and through his silence spoke of inner peace within him. Undoubtedly, so many happy moments were shared with him together with his family members, confreres, close friends and acquaintances. Living up to the ideals of being a young and energetic SVD missionary, he reached out to the people even in remote barrios to preach God's Word! And he did it out of love for mission, and love of Christ!

His violent death that took place late in the afternoon of the Palm Sunday shattered us all. He was then preparing to celebrate the Holy Eucharist inside the public elementary school in a far-flung village, Mabungtot. The children, as well as the elder men and women, were all gathered around the impoverished altar eager to celebrate the Holy Mass. Fr. Francis was not yet vested then. He was seated calmly waiting for the Coleman light that they were to use. Suddenly, there entered a man who started firing at him. He sustained wounds in the lower abdomen and on the left side of the chest. Wailing covered the whole village. The catechist brought home the dead body to be watched over at their house that night. Meanwhile, a delegation of men and women from Lubuagan Mission center trekked down the mountain trails before midnight to retrieve the body of their assistant parish priest. It was only at around 4 a.m. when they arrived at the Lubuagan Hospital after a three-hour walk.

The motive of the assailant is not clear even up to this very moment. Investigations tell us that Fr. Francis never had an argument with anybody before the incident took place. Nor did he preach anything against the sensitivities of the barrio folks! Fr. Francis was another victim of sheer criminality. The military and the police have joined forces in search for the killer. As of Wednesday test week, military and police forces completed their investi­gations and launched a massive operation to search for the assailant.

We condemn the killing as savage and inhuman! We are deeply hurt knowing that the action of taking someone else's life is utterly unchristian And our hearts cry out for justice for an innocent man! He did not deserve to die that way!

We are lost, devastated and confused ... even angry and hurt!

Today, we come once more to grip and wrestle again with the deplorable experience! Questions after questions crisscrossing our minds. "Why should this happen to a self-sacrificing priest who has dedicated himself to the service of God and his people?"

"Why does God allow this to happen to one of the chosen ones?" "If it could happen to an ordained priest, how much more could a layperson fare in celebrating dear life?" "Why is Kalinga so bathed in bloodshed all through these decades?"

Another blow for Kalinga. The other day, the Vice Governor of Kalinga province was murdered while commencing his campaign speech! He was candidate for governorship.

Perhaps, we have been too silent for a long time and afraid to speak out against all the killings in the past that we tolerated more killings to happen! Francis, forgive us! Surely, with you, we pray for the spiritual renewal of your murderers that they too may experience God's mercy and forgiveness. While we grieve as a people, we are prompted to continue doing the best we can in order to find ways and means to stop all these senseless violence. We do not want that Fr. Francis' death will just be in vain!

Bitter as it may be, this experience of ours is another wake-up call among all the many wake-up calls that prompt us to act here and now! In the midst of our devastation and hurt, we would never like to allow this experience to crush us like people devoid of hope! We feel the shame, the burden in our consciences as well as grief of losing a priest... Yet, we are encouraged to instill the value of working together in hope and peace to smash the chains of revenge and counter-revenge among our people. It has always challenged us to act, individually as well as communally, to bring about inner peace among us. In this way, we shall declare that nothing of Fr. Francis' life is lost .... Then shall we also claim that Justice and Peace will continue to break forth in our horizon. We stand in optimism that with this choice that we make, "we will be able to transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of peace ... (and) to transform this jangling discords of our world into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood." (Martin Luther King)

And so today, even without fully comprehending the reality of Fr. Francis' death, let us continue believing in the God of Life, the Risen Lord in our midst Surely, he will open our minds and consciences to value and to understand his saving Word written, hot only our scriptures, but also in the events in our lives. We know that the repercussions of all these dismal experiences, whenever they're taken up as a challenging call, would instill in us more meaning and a stronger resolve to work for PEACE. May the prayers of St. Francis of Assisi find an abode in everyone's heart: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love ...where there is injury, your pardon... "

We also look forward to the day when our people will learn that "non violence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being." (Mahatma Gandhi) We dream for nonviolence and Peace to flourish. We believe that Peace has a chance ... only when we give it a chance!

Police files charges against suspects in killing of Indonesian priest

(This news article appeared in ZigZag Weekly, April 15, 2007)

Tabuk, Kalinga – Police have filed murder charges against the suspect in the shooting to death of Indonesian Roman Catholic priest Fr. Francisco Madhu, 31, on Palm Sunday at Mabungtot, Lubuagan, this province.

Kalinga Police Provincial Director Severino Cruz identified those charged as Nestor Wailan, married, farmer and resident of Dugnac, Antonio Canao, Lubuagan, the alleged gunman and his two companions namely Joel Awingan, single, also a resident of Dugnac and Acmor Bonggawon, single, resident of Mabungtot.

Cruz said that contrary to earlier information, there was no fourth suspect.

Cruz informed that despite the week-long operation conducted by the police in the area, the suspects who are armed with M16 rifles and one 12-guage shotgun remain at large.

Cruz said that apart from the manhunt, the police are also negotiating the voluntary surrender of the suspects with the help of Lubuagan mayor Johnny Dickpus and councilor Gaspar Dickley.

Regarding the motive of the shooting, Cruz quoted witnesses as saying that the men were earlier offering to sell their guns to the barangay captain of Mabungtot and latter to Madhu and that both declined.

“They were drunk so there was no clear motive for the shooting,” Cruz said.

Meanwhile, Vicariate of Tabuk Bishop Prudencio Andaya, Jr. told media that during the burial of Fr. Madhu on April 9, the Indonesian ambassador had made it clear that their government want to see justice done for the death of the priest.

Andaya also said that there is no decision to pull out Fr. Gerry Gudmalin, the parish priest of Lubuagan, because “we are missionaries and are not supposed to run away from turmoil” but only for Fr. Gudmalin to take precaution in the wake of the killing his assistant.

“We have advised Fr. Gerry not to go to the barrios while the suspects are still at large. However, in the event that Fr. Gerry wants to go on vacation because the burden is too heavy to bear, I will allow him. He can come back when the assailants are already arrested,” the bishop said.

Andaya said that Madhu is the fourth priest killed in Kalinga. He named the other victims as Fr. Conrado Aquino who was gunned down in 1972 while riding in the car of the governor, Fr. Elias Bareng who was caugth in the midst of tribal fighting in Mangali, Tanudan in 1980 and Fr. Leo van de Winkle who was abducted and believed to have been killed in 1988.

Andaya also said that apart from the four victims, his predecesssor Bishop Carlito Cenzon was hacked and wounded at Nambaran, Tabuk and before that Fr. Mike Halterman was shot and wounded in the sacristry of the St. William's Cathedral before saying mass on Black Saturday.(Estanislao Albano, Jr.)

More on Fr. Madhu at http://divinewordseminary.blogspot.com/