Desecration of Cordillera heroes’ monument deplored

The Cordillera heroes’ monument in Tinglayan, Kalinga had been “desecrated” after it was removed by police from its site last January 7, a group of former martial law victims said on Thursday.

Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Arest (SELDA) vice chair Danilo Dela Fuente said the removal was an “insult to the heroism and bravery” of Cordillera martyrs Macli-ing Dulag, Lumbaya Gayudan, and Pedro Dungoc.

The three heroes led the indigenous communities in Kalinga and Mountain Province in the fight against the Chico Dam Project during the regime of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Macli-ing, who was an outspoken critic of the project, was killed by soldiers in 1980.

Citing a report by human rights group Cordillera People’s Alliance, SELDA said three pickup trucks ferried policemen at the site and took down the monument panels.

The Upper Kalinga District Engineering Office (UKDEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways issued a notice last October 2020, which declared that the historical marker was illegally installed and therefore should be removed.

The police also said the monument was installed without the approval of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

SELDA condemned the desecration of the Macli-ing memorial.