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Tuesday, October 09, 2004
Ateneo coed among 4 captured rebels
By Joy G. Romares
DAVAO CITY -- A student of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) was among the four rebels captured in a military encounter in October 3 at Mabini, Compostela Valley, the military said Friday.
Angelica Alaba, 26, a student of Ateneo de Davao was captured at Barangay Libudon, Mabini, Compostela Valley Province with three other rebels, 17-year-old Marjun (surname withheld for being a minor), Elmer Bapilar and Viviano Beriales both of legal age.
It was a tearful reunion between Angelica and her mother Myrna when she was presented to the media, with her four other comrades, at around 10 a.m. during the press conference of the 404th Infantry Brigade at the Task Force Davao (TFD) office.
The mother said she never suspected that her daughter has already joined the rebel movement.
"Perme man mi mag-text (We were sending text messages to each other)," she said.
"Pag-uli nako diri gikan sa abroad kadtong June, naa pa siya sa balay, July na siya nihawa sa balay ug iyang ingon sa akoa mag-community service lang sila, gisugtan pod nako kay gusto daw niya mo-serve, wala ko'y idea nga mag-join siya ani kay salig ko sa iyaha (When I returned home from abroad in June, she was still at home. She left in July. She told me she was going on a community service and so I allowed her since she said she wanted to serve the people and I trust her. I never though she was joining the rebels)," Myrna said.
Angelica said she decided to join the New People's Army (NPA) to experience how it is to fight in the boondocks.
She said she had this craving for the experience having been exposed to various situations in her social work course.
"Gi-orient ko nila pag-apil nako didto. Actually three months lang gyud akong plano tapos mouli nako, gusto lang nako ma-experience kung unsa ang kinabuhi sa taas (I was given an orientation when I joined the rebel group. Actually, I only intended to stay for three months. I just wanted to experience the life as a rebel in the mountains)," she said.
Her role in the rebel organization, she said, was primarily on education.
"Since ako ang educated, ginatudluan nako sila. Naa man gud didto'y mga 20-plus na ang edad tapos dili pa kabalo mobasa (Since I am the one who is educated among the rebels, I taught them. There were some who were already above 20 years old but still couldn't read)," she said.
Having lived in close quarters with the rebels since July, Angelica said, lack of education has a major role in the rebel movement.
"Kadaghanan sa ilaha didto illiterate, so, isa pod siguro ni sa mga rason nganong moapil sila kay humok man sila pasabton (Most of them are illiterate, this could be one of the reasons why they are easily enticed to join the NPA)," Alaba said.
Marjun said he decided to join the NPA when those who recruited him said he would be sent to school if he joins them.
Bapilar and Beriales said they were enticed to join the rebel group after they were promised that they would experience the true meaning of democracy in the NPA.
All, including Angelica's mother, were thankful for the humane treatment the rebels received from the military captors.
"Kung unsa ilang pagkaon, mao pod to amoang pagkaon, nagpasalamat ko sa mga sundalo kay wala mi nila gihilabtan bisan kusi man lang (We were eating the same food they were eating, I thank them because they did not hurt us. We received not even a pinch from them)," Marjun told reporters.
Myrna thanked the military for informing her that her daughter is safe in their hands.
"We are taking care of them since they were arrested," said Col. Rodolfo Obaniana, Commanding Officer of the 404th Infantry Brigade.
(October 9, 2004 issue)
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