SUSPEND THE MILITARY OPERATIONS IN PINUKPUK, KALINGA! UPHOLD THE IHL!

November 29, 2025

It has been more than a week since the military, particularly elements of the 103rd Infantry Battalion, 503rd Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, started their operations in Pinukpuk, Kalinga. The Philippine Army engaged 10 to 15 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Pinukpuk, Kalinga, on November 21, 2025. Since then, the barangay has been experiencing lockdown conditions and restrictions on mobility.

On November 23, the army clashed with the NPA. In the course of the clash, Victor Daligdig, also known as Ka Changli, was killed. He was a Butbut tribesman, belonging to the same tribe as Cordillera heroes Macli-ing Dulag, Pedro Dungoc, and Lucian Lumbaya, who are remembered for their defense of ancestral land and peoples’ rights. He was killed within the territory of the Limos tribe, with whom the Butbut tribe maintains a bodong (peace pact). Under the terms of this bodong, the Limos were obliged to retrieve the remains, clean the body, and deliver it to his tribe or notify his kin for retrieval. Limos tribesmen attempted to recover Daligdig’s remains but were prevented by soldiers. His body, which had fallen into a creek, was left submerged in water, constituting a violation of custom and tribal law.

Other impacts of the continued military operations include the suspension of classes in Allaguia, Apatan, Baay, and Limos proper. Some residents evacuated to neighboring villages where they were restricted from going outside, especially at night. Families were unable to prepare food or buy basic necessities due to restrictions imposed by soldiers. Agricultural activities are disrupted, inflicting double damage from the losses suffered from Typhoon Uwan. 

Katribu calls on the Philippine Army and government to uphold the International Humanitarian Law and allow humanitarian aid and psychosocial relief to enter the affected barangays.

More importantly, we call for the immediate suspension of military operations in these communities. We denounce General Gulliver Señires’ statements that the operations will persist until alleged NPA members surrender, and that the military would use its “left hand for peace and right hand for violence.” This is a violation of the principles of the IHL that forbids inflicting destruction that is unnecessary and excessive.

Reference:

Beverly Longid

National Convener, Katribu