BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines – Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena has allayed fears that there is a “tribal war” between Ifugaos and Ilocanos here, saying this is only being peddled by “alarmist” individuals.
“There is no truth about (it). We should not allow ourselves to be conditioned by it… because it evokes anger and hatred (against) one another,” Villena said in a pastoral statement that is repeatedly aired over the Church-run dwRV-Radio Veritas here.
Villena criticized those spreading the lies, especially through text messages, that recent killings in the province supposedly stemmed from a growing animosity between Ifugaos and Ilocanos.
Of the more than 10 people slain since last month, seven belonged to the Ifugao tribe and were engaged in pineapple farming in northern Bagabag town.
The bodies of three women who were shot in the head were recently found along the riverbank in Barangay Indiana, Bambang town.
“The execution of the three women intensifies the seeming breakdown of security and order in the province,” Villena said.
According to rumors, Ilocanos were behind the killings as they resented the increasing presence of Ifugaos and their control of the vast pineapple plantation in Amballo village in Bagabag town.
Bishop Villena called on the provincial government and police “to aggressively address this alarming concern on security, peace and order.”
“I strongly condemn all these killings in our province… We must stand together to uphold the dignity and protection of human life,” he said.
Senior Superintendent John Luglug, provincial police director, said a special task force dubbed “Operation Tugis” is going after the perpetrators and making efforts to prevent more killings.
“We have to do something to prevent and eventually put an end to these unnecessary killings. We don’t want to create an impression that this usually peaceful province is becoming a haven for criminals,” he said.
Luglug, an Ifugao himself, also denied that a supposed animosity between Ifugaos and Ilocanos triggered the killings.
In Lamut, Ifugao, Mayor Mariano Buyagawan Jr. has issued an executive order prohibiting motorcycle riders entering his town from wearing crash helmets, following the rash of killings in neighboring Bagabag town in Nueva Vizcaya.
Buyagawan told The STAR that the no-helmet policy would prevent motorcycle-riding assailants from “terrorizing our citizens.”
“If they are not wearing helmets, people can easily identify (them) after or even before committing a crime,” he added.
He said they are coordinating with the Nueva Vizcaya police to beef up their campaign against motorcycle-riding armed men to prevent more killings.