FEATURE: ‘We witnessed gun-battles, went through NPA and military checkpoints when travelling’ – Engr. Ngao-i describes life in Tabuk and Kalinga during height of insurgency

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Before the peace that the Province of Kalinga is experiencing today, with Tabuk City recently declared insurgency-free, there was a time when armed conflict in the province was highly prevalent. The public witnessed clashes between authorities and rebels in broad daylight, and civilians had to pass through several checkpoints set up by both groups when traveling.

Looking back on how the province, including its capital Tabuk City, has come a long way in its journey toward ending armed conflict, Engr. Andres Ngao-i, Chairman of the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council, recalled how alarming the peace and order situation in the province was during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Among the circumstances the public had to endure at the time was witnessing armed clashes between the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (now the Philippine National Police) and the New People’s Army in broad daylight. He also noted that roads leading to Tinglayan, Lubuagan, Pasil, Balbalan, and Bontoc were lined with checkpoints—both from the military and the NPA—making travel more difficult for residents.

“Many civilians became casualties as a result of ambushes between both sides,” he lamented.

NPA recruitment backed by elders and CPLA creation

Ngao-i also recalled that there was massive recruitment by the NPA in the province during the late 1970s and early 1980s, which was supported by the majority of tribal elders, leaders, and bodong holders. This support stemmed from the construction of a hydroelectric dam along the Chico River without consultation with the different tribes whose farms and rice fields were expected to be affected.

Another reason for the support of the armed movement was the logging operations of a corporation at the tri-boundary of Abra, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, which were also carried out without consultation with the tribes whose ancestral lands were affected.

In 1985, Ngao-i added that many individuals from Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Apayao, Ifugao, and Benguet who had joined the NPA eventually left the group and formed the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA). He explained that their primary objective was to defend their ancestral lands from abuses, rather than to secede from the Philippine government.

When then President Corazon Aquino took office following the EDSA Revolution, she sent her brother-in-law, Butz Aquino, to Kalinga to engage in dialogue with the CBA-CPLA led by Conrado Balweg. On September 13, 1986, President Aquino personally met with the group, leading to the signing of the historic Mount Data Sipat Agreement.

Following the agreement, Ngao-i said that majority of the CPLA members were integrated to the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police. He added that several benefits were also given to the group like livelihood programs and infrastructure projects, among others. He added that the only condition from the agreement which is not yet attained to date is the establishment of the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

Insurgency no longer pose threat to Tabuk City

Five decades later, with the continuing efforts of the government and the cooperation of the communities, insurgency has finally lost its hold to the province particularly Tabuk City who met the standards of peace and internal security, resulting into its SSIPS declaration.

Now that insurgency no longer posing threats to the city, the military turned over the internal security responsibilities to the police.