Cordillera women, unite to fight violence and plunder of our lands!

Innabuyog-Gabriela joins women around the world today in commemoration of November 25, the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (IDEVAW). We honor the Mirabal sisters – Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa – who were martyred on this day in 1960 by the fascist dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. The Mirabal sisters were revolutionaries who resisted the brutal Trujillo regime, and their legacy is that of courage and resistance for women around the world fighting for justice and women’s dignity.

Women in the Philippines are confronted with many forms of violence, as they reel from the impact of neoliberal policies that affect further the socio-economic conditions of the most marginalized sectors. Lack of sustainable employment, livelihood opportunities and rising costs of living add to the widespread poverty and hunger. The crisis has resulted in greater vulnerabilities for women despite existing legal protections like the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act and Safe Spaces Act. The Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) reports that gender-based violence (GBV) remains a prevalent concern in the country, with only one in every 10 cases of VAW being reported to authorities. This concern happens in workplaces, with 22% of women workers experiencing violence and harassment. Additionally, low budget for healthcare and basic social services deter women from seeking immediate medical attention.

In the Cordillera, media reports confirm the prevalence of GBV cases. VAWC cases increased through the years, with a notable increase during the pandemic. In Baguio City alone, 62 cases of VAWC were reported in the first quarter of 2025. In 2024, the 282 VAWC cases reported in Baguio included physical, emotional, economic and psychological abuses against women and children.

With the rest of their communities, women in the Cordillera are also affected by development aggression. Currently, Indigenous women and their communities are resisting mining plunder and impending exploration and operations in Abra (Yamang Mineral and Golden Lake), Benguet (Itogon Suyoc Resources Inc. and Crescent Mining), Kalinga (Makilala Mining). In Apayao, Indigenous women are at the forefront of community resistance from the hydropower projects applied for by Pan Pacific Renewable Power Philippines Corporation. In the City of Baguio, women are leading the fight to save the Baguio City Public Market from corporate takeover. The Save Baguio Market Movement, composed of (vendors, concerned citizens and volunteers recently marched to City Hall to submit their petition urging councilors to REJECT SM Prime Holdings, Inc.'s redevelopment proposal for the Baguio Public Market with over 20,000 individuals who signed.

In addition to resisting the plunder of our resources, Cordillera women have risen up to resist the widespread plunder of people’s resources with massive corruption taking place in the country. This systemic corruption further marginalized Indigenous peoples.

In the human rights front, there is continuing judicial harassment of women leaders in the region who face terrorist designation and trumped-up charges of terrorism financing and cyberlibel -- Sarah Abellon-Alikes, Jennifer Awingan-Taggaoa, Petronila Guzman, Marcylyn Pilala and Bestang Dekdeken. Harassment continues for Betty Belen in Kalinga. We condemn these State attacks against them, which is clearly violence against women and real acts of terrorism.

Thus, in solidarity with our fellow Indigenous women from Benguet, Apayao, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province and Kalinga and to kick off our 16 Days Campaign to End Violence against Women, INNABUYOG is part of a delegation of community leaders to dialogue with progressive legislators in Congress today, followed by engagements at the Department of Justice, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

Courage on, women of the Cordillera, as we unite to confront state attacks to our human rights, and was we fight for our dignity as Indigenous Peoples.