Lumauig’s message not a call to war

This refers to the letter titled “Quest for Cordillera autonomy” (Opinion, 6/8/15). Prof. Claro Q. Esoen must have misread the message of former Ifugao governor Gualberto B. Lumauig’s article on the Cordillera (“What about the Cordillera?” Opinion, 5/25/15). It definitely was not about beating the war drums or calling radicals to arms.

I have known Lumauig well enough to attest that he shuns any form of emotional stirrings to draw regional or national attention.

The reference to renegade priest Fr. Conrado Balweg and Macli-ing Dulag was a simple recognition of the role they played in helping put on the world map the struggles of the Cordillera people.

Lumauig’s message is very simple—time is running out. When will our leaders move as one to effectively resurrect the autonomy for the Cordillera?

The clamor for a constitutional change is mounting, and I have no doubt this will become a reality under a new administration. Once the Constitution is changed or amended, expect the provision on the creation of a Cordillera autonomous region deleted. That will mean the final demise of our dreamed-of Cordillera autonomy.

—AMADO ALMAZAN, former governor, Province of Kalinga-Apayao