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Soldiers, para-military positioned in Mankayan

Labor groups question troop movement

MANKAYAN, Benguet (May 23) — Some 85 soldiers were deployed here on May 10, the Cordillera Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said, following an Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) order by Labor Secretary Patricia Sto.Tomas over the ongoing labor dispute between the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo) and the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU).

Under Commanding Officer Ben Anongos, the soldiers reportedly belong to the 54th IB of the Philippine Army with members of Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) integrees and the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) based in Mt. Province. Ten soldiers are deployed in each of barangays Colalo, Cabiten, Tubo and Baguyos. The other 45 were spread through other areas of Mankayan.

LEU President Ninian Lang-agan said that the workers were surprised with the presence of the armed men in the said areas.

“Masdaaw kami nu apay nga adda dagiti soldado ket awan met ti mapaspasamak nga gubat ditoy Mankayan.” (We have no idea why there are soldiers deployed here when there is no war here). Lang-agan added that many of the workers suspect that the deployment of the troopers is connected with their ongoing dispute with the company especially since the armed men arrived a day after the AJ was issued.

“Saan a lapped ti kaadda da iti plano mi nga agistrike nu saan a maresolba ti problema mi. Awan ti pagbutngan mi ta legal met ti ilablaban mi ken saan kami a makigub-gubat,” (Their presence however will not stop our plan to go on strike if our problem will not be solved. We are not afraid because our fight is legal and we are not going to war) Lang-agan said.

KMU-Cordillera Spokesperson James Tulipa said that the deployment is a clear move of the company to sow fear among the workers who are gearing towards a strike. Tulipa said that the commanding officer did not even pay a courtesy call to Mankayan Mayor Manalo Galuten when they came. Tulipa called the Office of the Mayor and talked to the secretary who said that the Mayor’s Office was not informed of the soldiers’ presence.

“If the local government of Mankayan did not call for the deployment of the soldiers, then who else asked for it if not the company?” said Tulipa. # Aldwin Quitasol and Nida Tundagui for NORDIS

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