ILOILO City – “Deception and false ideology.”
This was what two former insurgents said they realized the time they took up arms and joined the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
James Joy Saguino was a former “guerilla front secretary” of the Guerilla Front 20 under the CPP-NPA’s sub-regional committee in Southern Mindanao.
He was initially recruited into the underground youth organization Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in 2007 and after a year joined one of the NPA guerilla fronts operating in the towns of Igbaras, Miag-ao and San Joaquin in Iloilo province.
After three months Saguino was considered a “candidate member” of the CPP.
He also assumed positions in various cause-oriented groups and even campaigned for party-lists in the 2016 elections.
It was in 2017 – there was martial law in Mindanao – when Ka Amihan, the nom de guerre Saguino used, decided to leave the CPP because he witnessed its “dark truths.”
“I witnessed a lot of things na taliwas sa aking prinsipyo,” he claimed. “Violence against women…our commanders raped women. Saksi ako sa exploitation.”
He added: “The commanders were taking advantage of the new recruits. I realized they were violating the policies of the kilusan. Women abuses were being tolerated instead na i-punish.”
He also shared an experience during a 2016 encounter with the military.
“Gruesome,” he said. “He (soldier) was shot dead pero nilaslasan pa ng leeg. Hindi makatao ang ginawa nila.”
“Lumabas ako kasi hindi ko kinaya ang ginawa nila. Mayroon pa akong awa sa mga sundalo,” he added.
On the other hand, former rebel Ka Rachelle joined KM with the intention to “change the face of the feudal system and colonialism.”
In September 2018, she joined the commemoration of the Escalante massacre in Negros Occidental.
She said one of the recruitment strategies was “to encourage innocent young people to learn their cultural struggles.”
Ka Rachelle said she joined various groups and movements.
But later she realized that “all teachings and beliefs of the NPA were illusions and lies.”
“Ang mga leaders namon nagakaon sang manamit nga sud-an, kami uga lang. Didto ko na-realize nga it’s the complete opposite ang ila ginahambal sang nagapang-recruit pa lang sila na equal treatment sa sulod sang organisasyon sa mga babae,” she said.
“Ako naga-encourage sa akon kaupdanan nga mag-surrender na sila kay may maayo nga programa ang gobyerno para sa aton,” Ka Rachelle said.
She also has an advice to parents: “Bantayi gid inyo mga bata kon anong klase grupo ilang ginasalihan kay basi NPA organization. To the students, don’t join kay ilan ginahambal lusay kabutigan.”
Ka Rachelle was captured on May 24, 2019 in Negros Oriental.
Ka Amihan and Ka Rachelle are now part of the government’s campaign to dismantle the CPP-NPA. They do testimonials in communities in the hope of enlightening and warning the public about the rebellion./PN
