ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28896, 16 May 1959, Page 13

ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS

Beheadings In Philippines (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) MANILA, May 15 Ilongot warriors beheaded two Christians —both young girls—on Thursday and . the Philippines constabulary opened a full-scale drive to stop the rampage by the fierce northern Luzon tribe The deaths of 14-year-old Perlita Eugeio and 20-year-old Pontenciana Alaman brought to three the number of persons beheaded by the young men of the tribe since the Ilongot marriage season began last Tuesday Brigadier-General Isigani Campo head of the constabulary, launched a punitive drive against the Ilongot headhunters who are roaming the forest of Nueva Vizcaya Province in search of Christian heads. General Campo said that with the coming of spring Ilongot braves had gone out in search of Christian heads to present them to their prospective brides as tokens of their “undying love.” The heads were brought back to the Ilongot village and stuck on poles near the hut of the women. The Ilongots also believe Christian heads ensure a bountiful rice harvest.—the more heads the more rice In the latest Ilongot ambush, about 20 braves attacked six Christian girls gathering cogan grass in a small village The constabulary said- the Ilongot braves who staged the ambush could be the same group which killed and beheaded a Christian farmer yesterday » The Ilongots used to use only two-foot knives and spears but in recent years they have been using Japanese rifles, relics of World War 11, and shotguns seized from farmers.