Solidarity Message

KATRIBU Indigenous People’s Partylist extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of our brother, Jimmy Liguyon, defender of the rights of indigenous peoples, who was killed by ruthless paramilitary group.

The terror brought about by the present Aquino 2 government, masquerading with the face of Oplan Bayanihan, is greatly increasing in IP communities both here in the northern and southern parts of the Philippines. Human right’s organizations and workers have recorded numerous AFP attrocities that they continue to cover up and deny. Presently, here in the Cordillera, there is an intensifying clamour for justice for the rape of Isabel, a 16 year old student by Captain Danilo Lalin of the Highlander 86, 50th Infantry Battalion in Mankayan, Benguet and the stop to militarization in the countrysides which is disrupting the daily lives of indigenous communities. We strongly condemn the pronouncement of the AFP that there were zero human right violations for the past six months.

Presently, KATRIBU indigenous Peoples Partylist and Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) and other delegates of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Watch-Philippines met with various diplomats of different permanent missions in the United Nations in Geneva, where issues of militarization of IP communities and the vilification of progressive organizations and IP leaders were presented.

Furthermore, KATRIBU and KAMP presented the recent cases of extrajudicial killings among IPs and advocates of IPs, environmental activists. The cases included the killings of Lumad leader, Jimmy Liguyon of Bukidnon; Margarito Cabral, leader against the Pulangi V Dam, and the threats, harassment and intimidation cases of health workers of the Community Health Services in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE), to the representative of Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.
We, the Indigenous People of our plague country, are crying out for justice to our brother Jimmy Liguyon and all victims of human rights violations. Let us turn our grief into a burning inspiration to continue our unending fight for our land, rights, life and resources.

With this, KATRIBU Indigenous People’s Partylist will continue and ensure that the fight for Indigenous Peoples Right to burn more fiercefully, reckoning whatever form of perpetrators it would be!

Mabuhay Tayong Lahat!
Mabuhay ang mga Katutubong Pilipino!