Drilon pet project foes tagged as rebels

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Members of an indigenous people’s group in Panay, who are opposing the construction of a dam in Iloilo, are among those charged with rebellion in connection with an armed clash in Capiz more than a year ago.

The Tumanduk nga Manguguma nga Nagapangapin sang Duta kag Kabuhi (Tumanduk), an alliance of 17 indigenous people’s communities in Tapaz and Jamindan towns in Capiz and Calinog town in Iloilo, said linking its members to the communist rebellion could be part of efforts to stop their opposition to the P11.2-billion megadam project in Calinog, another pet project of Senate President Franklin Drilon.

“I have nothing to do with the [clash] and the rebels, and why was the case only filed now when the opposition to the dam is increasing?” said Nelson Gimong, one of the 32 respondents in the rebellion complaint filed at the Capiz Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Also named in the complaint was Abelardo Diaz, a council member of Tumanduk and village councilor of Nayawan in Tapaz.

The complaint, filed on Sept. 25 by Insp. Leomindo Tayopon, acting chief of police of Tapaz town in Capiz, alleged that the respondents were involved in the Oct. 7, 2013 ambush by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels of an Army squad in Barangay Nayawan in Tapaz.

Pfc. Rick Llorico, who was part of the squad and survived the ambush, alleged in his affidavit that the suspects had been identified by soldiers through their binoculars.

Llorico said the suspects had been seen wielding firearms and fleeing the ambush scene.

But Gimong said he was in Barangay Garangan, two villages away from Nayawan, during the ambush.

Gimong is among those at the forefront of opposition to the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (JRMP II).

The JRMP II is set to be completed by 2016. It involves the construction of three dams, a 6.6-megawatt hydro power plant and an 81-kilometer canal.