DEMOLITION of the monuments of Macli-ing Dulag, Pedro Dungoc and Lumbaya Gayudan were recommended by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Upper Kalinga District Engineering Office (Ukdeo).
General R'win Pagkalinawan, Police Regional Office (PRO)-Cordillera director, said the decision to demolish the monuments came from the DPWH, not from the police as claimed by the Cordillera People's Alliance (CPA).
"On the issue of demolition, the Provincial Advisory Council recommended this to the Provincial Local Government Unit," Pagkalinawan said.
Advisory councils are composed of respected members in business, academe, religious, government, youth, media, and other sectors of the community.
Juliet Aban of the DPWH regional information office confirmed the Ukdeo's decision, saying the construction of the monument is illegal as it is situated 4.10 meters from the centerline of the road and the monument encroached on the national road.
She said notices were given on the move while coordination on which agency will conduct the demolition is still ongoing.
Pagkalinawan reiterated that PRO-Cordillera acknowledges the struggle of the Chico River Dam heroes but pointed out CPA's deception of the youth.
The regional police chief visited the municipality of Tinglayan recently to talk with the warring tribes.
"We are not denying that they are Chico River Dam heroes but their names are being used in vain and linked to communism by the Cordillera People's Alliance or CPA with intent to deceive the youth," Pagkalinawan stated.
In September this year, the Butbut Tribe issued a three-page resolution detailing its condemnation of the continuous unauthorized use by the CPA of the names of local hero's to further its causes.
Pagkalinawan said that based on Resolution 01 series 2020, which was issued by the Butbut Tribe, it condemns the continuous unauthorized use by the CPA of the names of its local heroes, particularly Dulag, Dungoc and Gayudan, in furthering its political agenda to lure innocent people especially the students to join their established alliance organizations indoctrinating them with the left's ideology.
Among those who signed the resolution were barangay adviser Suplay Alunday, Robert Macli-ing, Martin Gayudan, Gilbert Dungoc, Julie Ann Asin-Dungoc, and Butbut Punong Barangay Robert Dumpao.