BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
STRAIGHT TO the point, I wasn’t awestruck by the acceptance speech of Major General Benedict “Balong” Arevalo, newly-installed commanding general of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division of the Philippine Army in Capiz on Sept. 21, 2021.
Candidly, it’s packed with “impossibilities” and “boastfulness”. Why?
First is Balong’s mantra: “Loved by the people, feared by the enemies”.
It sounds good. Catchy. But wait…Being loved by the people is okay. But to be feared by the enemies, for me, is an “off-brand” statement from the Army.
Is Balong “at par” compared to his predecessors? The crafter of such mantra, and Balong himself, should have considered lots of things before uttering this line.
Balong, of course, refers to the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as their perennial “enemies”. But for CPP-NPA to fear Balong, I don’t think so.
Insurgency in the Philippines, per record, started in 1968. This 53-year-old “social revolt” is already being likened to a “chronic disease” that is beyond cure. Government is already showing exasperation in addressing it.
Even former presidents Ferdinand Marcos, Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Erap Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, and Noynoy Aquino failed to address insurgency. All of them chose the “best” chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Army chiefs, but their respective anti-insurgency campaign ended up as a dismal failure.
Insurgency heightened in the country in the 1980s, but weakened in the 1990s due to split(s) within the CPP-NPA. The main reason behind these splits was money. But in 2000, the CPP-NPA regained its strength. Per estimate, it was able to gather and train around 5,000 new combatants all over the country.
During President Arroyo’s incumbency, she aimed at “finishing” insurgency. Thus, she allowed party-list representation of the marginalized sectors in Congress. But then again, it’s another blatant “flaw”. Most of party-list representatives now are either sons or daughters of well-off politicians. Short to say, there is this “fake” representation in Congress
With the same wish – to end the insurgency – President Duterte created the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). It’s Duterte’s last gambit to get rid of the rebels. Thus, NTF-ELCAC’s budget this year and next year: P19 billion and P28.12 billion, respectively. What a “fatty” budget for the President’s “ambiguous” dream.
Experts say the insurgency will continue to subsist in the country for as long as the “social ills” like inequality, poverty, corruption, etcetera will continue to “metastasize” in the society. Guns and bullets, add by the experts, aren’t potent solutions. Compassionate approaches coupled with humility are the best instead. Sincere and sustainable delivery of basic services and government social responsibility (GSR) programs in areas deemed to be “critical” are also a must.
These areas I am referring to were “deprived” of government’s attention. And it takes time to let people here understand the pros and cons of the insurgency, and to say no to the CPP-NPA.
Acing insurgency, therefore, is no ordinary task. It cannot be achieved overnight through threat and further intimidation. Tedious “indoctrination” of the masses to revert back to government is still the key. And Balong should bear in mind that the CPP-NPA, like ordinary citizens, has also its generations X, Y and Z. They, too, breed their protégées who will continue their struggle(s) against the government. Thus, for Balong to say he’ll be feared by the enemies, duh?!
Whoever will be the commanding general of the 3ID or the president of the country, the CPP-NPA is still there and will continue to “pester” the government.
ANOTHER FALLACY
Balong’s pronouncement that CPP-NPA is already weakened is another “fallacy”.
Sans statistical proof (as to the current number of CPP-NPA combatants and mass-based sympathizers), Balong, I think, should refrain from releasing “half-baked” statement(s). The series of ambushes and encounters in Negros in recent months are indicative attestation that the CPP-NPA is just around the corner. And will surely do a rampage these coming elections.
Balong appealing to politicians not to give money to the rebels, again, I think, is an “obsolete” plea. Politicians, by all means, want to secure their poll victory “by hook or by crook”.
Giving “revolutionary tax” to the CPP-NPA for free access to woo voters in secluded areas dominated by the insurgents has been a long-time practice. Politicos in Negros are just mum, but they adhere to this set-up. It’s their way to “survive” and win the elections.
For Balong to be “credible”, therefore, he must cease from stating an “ode” that didn’t “sell” already.
PRIM AND PROPER
I know Balong, my dear military friend. Sans elaboration, he is handsome, prim and proper and an eloquent speaker. Our friendship “blossomed” when he was assigned as Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the defunct 66th IB (Infantry Battalion) in Barangay Burgos, Cadiz City in NegOcc during the 1990s. He was then a young Army lieutenant while I am neophyte journo.
Being the “mouthpiece” of the late Brigadier General Carlos Clet (former 66th IB commander), Balong was “charming” to the media. Though he’s talkative sometime, the way I size him up, he’s more of a “reserved” person.
I remember his line in one of our socials in their headquarters in Cadiz City: “We’ll disprove to the people that we, soldiers, are no bulldogs of the mountains.”
Meaning, time has come that soldiers should not be feared by anyone – a contrast to his current mantra.
The 66IB became famous in Negros because of its live band (with the singing soldiers) that performs in far-flung areas during fiestas and other social events.
Though he’s not a performer, Balong was then a crowd favorite. His lean body, baby face and white complexion summed up a complete package of a “new soldier”. Seeing Balong in person and in civilian clothes, you will never assume he’s a soldier. He looks like Korean actor Lee Min-ho in the famous K-Drama “Boys Over Flowers”.
But beyond looks, Balong is one of the intelligent members of the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA) “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990.
The last time I saw him was during the Army’s Media Thanksgiving at Nature’s Resort in Talisay City three years ago. Balong, that time, was still the commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry “Brown Eagle) Brigade in Murcia town.
Then, the last time I heard about him was when he became “infamous” on the issue of red-tagging against some of the University of the Philippines (UP) alumni. That time, Balong was the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army’s CMO (J7) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
With the said brouhaha, Balong took an indefinite leave of absence, and eventually “sacked” from his position. Now, I am so happy seeing him taking the top post of the Army’s 3ID at Camp Macario Peralta. Thus, I still heap praises for him. And I am pretty sure that, with Balong, the 3ID will be in good hands.
But my simple wish for him is just to be candid always. It’s quite inappropriate seeing him engage in an “ignominious” drive against CPP-NPA. Better for Balong to tell the public what’s the real score of their current anti-insurgency campaign. That way, people will appreciate and surely support them in their very mission – to attain peace all over the country.
Or Balong must ponder upon the phrase by former US representative John Conyers, Jr. (during the Iraq war), “If we want to stop adding fuel to the fire of insurgency and terrorism, we must clarify our intent.”
Because, insurgency, in truth, is easy to make but hard to stop./PN
