War dance performed at slain SAF’s burial

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – PO3 Robert Dumolyog Allaga, one of the 44 cops who perished in the Maguindanao clash, was laid to rest on Tuesday, February 3, in Banaue, Ifugao, beside the ancestral house where he spent his early childhood.

Patok sitio in Poitan is a remote part of Banaue. The pallbearers had to use an allasiw or batawil (bamboo carrier) to carry Allaga’s flag-draped coffin as they traversed  kilometers of rice terraces.

Before Allaga’s burial, a baki or priest named Gitahlah had to offer prayers and initiate the war dance, the young cop having been killed in combat.

The ritual, known as himmong, was done by male dancers in the village with their spears and shields and a crown made of red oliva leaves. The dancers vowed for revenge for Allaga’s spirit.

According to his uncle Jun Allaga, the Allagas are a bigger clan, which includes the Baguilats. He said that there was confusion when TV networks reported that a member of the Philippine National Policem Special Action Force (PNP SAF) named “Robert,” also from Banaue, survived. Some relatives thought it was Allaga.

That “Robert” turned out to be PO2 Christopher Robert Lalan, a distant cousin of Allaga. Lalan, a former catechist in Banaue, is the only survivor of the ill-fated 55th SAF Command and who only surfaced Monday afternoon, January 26, a day after the bloody clash. While he was hiding, his name was listed among the dead.

PO3 Allaga, according to his uncle, also spent his youth in the mining town of Itogon in Benguet, as his father was a miner in Antamok Mines.

Other members of the 55th command who were miners’ sons were PO2 Angel Kodiamat, PO3 Noel Golocan, and PO2 Nobel Kiangan. All graduated at the Lepanto National High School as their fathers worked for Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation. (READ: Region in mourning: 1 in 3 slain SAF sons of Cordillera)

Kodiamat and Golocan’s fathers were miners while the father of Kiangan worked with the security. Kodiamat was buried at the town cemetery while Kiangan was buried in their backyard in Paco village in Benguet. Golocan was brought to Sagada, Mountain Province.

PSI Cyrus Annaban was buried last Monday at the Tabuk Cemetery. Last week, his classmates at St Williams College in Kalinga created a Facebook page – Cyrus Annaban – Our Hero – for their bashful classmate. During the funeral procession, his classmates all wore white T-shirts printed with Cyrus’ picture. 

Meanwhile, the burial of PO3 Noel Golocan was delayed when one of the police officers assigned to secure Sagada was ambushed by armed men in Dugo sitio in Bangaan town on the evening of February 1.

Senior Police Officer  William Degay of the Regional Intelligence Unit was supposed to oversee the security of Golocan’s wake when he and his niece were ambushed while he was driving. Degay was hit 4 times but survived and is now at the Bontoc General Hospital.

Golocan’s body remains in Bontoc town until Sagada is secured. – Rappler.com