Rano massacre
Part of Communist rebellion in the Philippines
Davao del Sur is located in Philippines
Davao del Sur
Davao del Sur
Davao del Sur (Philippines)
DateJune 25, 1989
Location
Sitio Rano, Digos, Davao del Sur, Philippines
Belligerents
Ituman[note 1] New People's Army
Commanders and leaders
Ruben Ayap
Strength
Undetermined[note 1] ~100[2]
Casualties and losses
See below 2 (claimed)
37–39 killed[note 2]

The Rano massacre, also known as the Digos massacre,[6] refers to the aftermath of an incident which occurred in the village of Rano in Digos, Davao del Sur on June 25, 1989 which resulted to the death of 39 people. The New People's Army claimed responsibility for the deaths but insisted that anti-communist vigilantes among the victims fired at them first.[4]

Background

The Rano massacre occurred on June 25, 1989 at a chapel affiliated with the Protestant United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in sitio Lower Rano in Barangay Binaton in Digos.[7][2][3] Most of the victims were members of the Obo and Bagobo ethnic groups who were part of the Ituman anti-communist vigilante group.[2][3][8]

The New People's Army (NPA) were blamed for the deaths. According to the Philippine Constabulary, they were told that the villagers believed that the NPA were not pleased that the churchgoers have formed an anti-communist vigilante group and had refused to pay "revolutionary taxes" to the Communist rebel group.[2]

The NPA made requests for a dialogue with Ruben Ayap, also known as Kumander Maya, the leader of the Ituman vigilante group in Rano but such requests were left unanswered. The rebel group decided to hold a mass meeting at Rano despite Ayap's disinterest. Ayap who was attending Sunday School in the chapel at that time, sent Cesar Endar to meet the NPA outside. Endar and the NPA exchanged fire despite the NPA's claims that they intend to initiate talks. The gunfire prompted Ayap to send the parishioners with him to evacuate to Abadya Ayap's house at the back of the chapel. Gunfight between the Ituman and the NPA persisted for hours. The NPA attempted to initiate talks again but the Ituman responded with gunfire from inside the house. The NPA attempted to enter the house but was met with resistance and the rebels resumed shooting at the house.[3]

The NPA were able to enter the house and found many dead bodies. They queried a survivor who told them that Ruben Ayap did not allow anyone inside to leave or surrender. The corpses of Clemente Ayap and Abadya Ayap were beheaded by the NPA. The NPA left in the afternoon before the Philippine military arrived at the site.[3]

The NPA later admitted to be involved in the massacre, but reasoned that they were forced resort to armed violence after anti-communist vigilantes among the eventual victims fired at them first.[4]

Victims

There are conflicting reports regarding the number of deaths with 37 to 39 people killed in the incident.[note 2] Most of the victims were unarmed, but some were armed, albeit lightly relative to the NPA, with at least a pistol, two shotguns, a single-shot rifle and bolo knives.[3]

Aftermath

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) after conducting its probe condemned the NPA saying that the incident "raised grave doubts" about the NPA's consistent efforts "toward social transformation based on justice." and accused the rebel group of violating the Geneva Convention[1] The UCCP also condemned the Philippine government, after receiving reports that the army has been using its chapels as bases of operation and organizing its congregations into anti-communist vigilante groups.[3]

The massacre damaged the reputation of the New People's Army challenging the NPA's image as "defenders of people´s sacred hopes and deepest aspirations". The massacre occurred weeks after the media reported that the NPA had tortured and killed hundreds of its own members over suspicion that they might be "deep penetration agents" or spies for the Philippine government as well as the assassination of US Colonel James N. Rowe in April which was condemned by several national newspapers.[1]

Immediately after the massacre, killings of suspected NPA members increased in the Davao area and the announcement that 200 Ituman members would be part of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, an irregular component of the Philippine military.[8]

Commemoration

The Rano massacre has been commemorated annually. In 2021, the Rano Memorial and Bale Kasunay Tribal Peace Hall was unveiled by the Kapiid Ka Banua (KKBI) Tribal Council and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). The monument which has a leaf motif, was designed by Davao artist Kublai Millan, "life, renewal, and transformation" of the Bagobo-Tagabawa, after the event. A marker is also present at the memorial site which list the names of the massacre's 39 victims.[9][10]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Mostly unarmed. At least five including Ruben Ayap were lightly armed.[1]
  2. ^ a b Conflicting reports: Reported number of deaths ranges from 37[1][3] to 39.[2] Two NPA members were claimed to have been killed by a survivor, whose supposed remains were said to have been carried away by the rebels according to the military.[4] The Rano Memorial recognizes 39 named victims (22 children, 10 women, and seven men)[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Massacre heightens NPA's bad image United Church leader says". UCA News. July 4, 1989. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Richburg, Keith B. (June 27, 1989). "39 slain at church, says Manila". Washington Post. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Human Rights Watch (August 1990). The Philippines: Violations of the Laws of War by Both Sides (PDF). New York, NY. pp. 97–106. ISBN 0-929692-52-7. Retrieved September 21, 2021.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ a b c "Communist Army Admits Massacre". The Victoria Advocate. Davao City. Associated Press. June 28, 1989. p. 6C. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Palicte, Che (June 25, 2021). "1989 Rano massacre remembered with monument unveiling". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Party-list rep: Never forget Digos massacre". The Philippine Star. July 13, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "NPA apologizes for killing Ferrazini". MindaNews. February 25, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  8. ^ a b May, Ronald J. (1992). "Vigilantes in the Philippines: From Fanatical Cults To Citizens' Organizations" (PDF). Philippine Studies Occasional Paper (12). Center For Philippine Studies School Of Hawaiian, Asian And Pacific Studies University Of Hawai'i at Manoa, Printa-Quick: 27.
  9. ^ Palicte, Che (June 25, 2021). "1989 Rano massacre remembered with monument unveiling". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Cruz, Kaithreen (July 19, 2021). "Rano Memorial and Bale Kasunay Tribal Peace Hall inaugurated". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 21, 2021.

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