Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Vol. IV, No. 29 August 22 - 28, 2004 Quezon City, Philippines |
Without
Walls or Bars
|
When
the media team had finally settled down, steaming hot coffee (the
province’s version of kapeng barako, the famous brewed coffee of
Batangas, in Southern Luzon) and fried cookies were served for snacks.
“Those (improvised cookies) were supposed to be doughnuts but we
used the wrong recipe,” the young woman guerilla apologized. A
few minutes after, the members of the press were finally allowed to meet
the much-awaited subject of their coverage – Army 1Lt. Ronaldo A.
Fedelino and Pfc. Ronel Nemeño. The Army soldiers surrendered to the NPA
after their unit, a 50-man strong Special Operations Team (SOT) of the 42nd
Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IB PA), was ambushed last March
1 in Tamban village, municipality of Tinambac, this province. |
The
doughnuts they intended to cook in this improvised kitchen |
Wearing
almost identical white shirts, gray pants and new pairs of leather
slippers, Fedelino and Nemeño were inside a makeshift tent similar to
that of the media’s temporary abode except that inside were two
stretchers, one for Butch, Fedelino’s nickname, and the other for one of
his close-in guards, 27-year-old Ka (comrade) Jerlyn.
The
two POWs were barraged with questions from the media while members of the
NPA custodial force (CF) maintained their distance while keeping a tight
watch on their wards just the same.
The
team leader of the CF who introduced himself to the media as Ka Russel
said Butch and Ronel, Nemeño’s nickname, were given relative freedom of
movement while in captivity.
“Para nga silang mga bakasyunista” (They seem like they
were merely on vacation), he told the reporters.
Placing
a handcuff on Butch, the Red commander explained, became a necessity when
his close-in security reported to the CF command that Butch had tried to
bribe him in exchange for a chance to escape. Butch denied the allegation
but Ka Russel said it had actually happened twice.
But
the handcuffs, which Butch requested to be wrapped in cloth as he
developed an allergy, were put only from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
It was also taken off when he eats, washes up, and answers the
calls of nature.
His hands were free throughout the day, said Ka Russel.
Butch,
according to his seven-man close in security, was always snappy, a
distinct trait of an army officer.
But he also had a short temper, they added.
During
the first two months of his captivity, he would sometimes shout at his
custodians for no apparent reason.
“Akala nya kumander pa rin sya dito sa kampo” (He thinks
he is a commanding officer even in this [NPA] camp), one of them said.
He
would also not talk to his custodians if he thought they were “merely
regular NPA guerillas,” a mentality of superiority he acquired from the
army, Ka Russel explained.
At
first, Butch also denied he was an army officer.
Ka Russel said Butch introduced himself as a corporal but the CF
became doubtful because he was carrying an M203.
Upon
further interrogation, Butch later claimed he was a sergeant to which one
of his custodians replied, “Magmula ngayon, promoted ka na bilang
first lieutenant” (From now on, we are promoting you to the rank of
1st lieutenant).
Caught
flat-footed by his custodians’ statement, Butch could not hide his
anxiety, Ka Russel said.
“Namula sya” (He blushed), Ka Russel said, adding that
the CF had already confirmed from the radio that their captive was an army
junior officer.
Despite
his attempts to fool his captors, the CF remained patient with Butch, Ka
Russel said.
“Sanay makihalubilo ang mga kasama” (Comrades are used to
relating with different kinds of people), said Ka Russel.
But he added, “We would point out the problems with his attitude
and would assure him that he could also tell us our shortcomings,” Ka
Russel added.
The
custodians said it was only then that Butch became more at ease.
“We
have become friends,” Butch would often tell reporters when asked about
his feelings towards his custodians.
“They treated us like human beings.”
Butch
and Ronel play chess with their custodians, listen to the radio, and play
the guitar. They were even allowed to hold the bolo (long knife)
when opening coconuts, Ka Russel added.
Ronel
had his own tent, about 20 meters away from Butch’s.
Instead of a stretcher, he had a hammock made of tefeta (soft)
cloth. “This
is where I sleep,” he said.
The
custodians and their captive looked liked a bunch of good friends, singing
and laughing together, as if they did not come from warring camps.
Every
day, according to Ka Russel, Butch and Ronel were given medical check-up.
Each were allotted one pack of cigarettes daily.
While
in custody, Ronel, a vocalist of the 42nd IB PA, learned a
revolutionary love song, “Rosas ng Digma” (Roses of War) which,
he said, he would sing to his fiancée as soon as he is released.
The
CF admitted that they were more lenient with Ronel.
“He was more cooperative,” said Ka Russel, “and besides,
there is no case against him.” The Romulo Jallores and the Nancy San
Juan Commands filed, under a people’s court, cases of massacre and
sexual abuse, among others, against Butch.
(related
article: Freed POW Could Have
Faced People's Court
A
young soldier at 24, Ronel has been enlisted in the army for only two
years, doing mostly office work.
The military operation on March 1 was his first.
He
comes from a peasant family in Mindanao. He has been the family
breadwinner ever since he worked as a service crew for a popular fastfood
chain in Manila.
His
custodians related that Ronel took care of some orchids during his earlier
days as a captive.
The flowers wilted when they moved a lot to evade the hot pursuit
operations conducted by the military.
He
also took care of four parakeets, small bright green and yellow birds,
which the villagers called kulasisi (literally, mistress).
Two of the birds he reserved for himself, the other two were for
his officer, Butch.
His
custodians also admitted that Ronel’s handcuffs were taken off when
Butch was not looking.
“Kasama
pala ako sa pinaglilingkuran ninyo”
(So I am part of the people whom you are serving), Ronel supposedly told
his captors after a brief discussion regarding the work of the NPA.
Both Butch and Ronel were invited to attend discussions on the
Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International
Humanitarian Law (Carhrihl).
Members
of the custodial force had dark rings around their eyes.
“Twenty-four
hours ang security namin” (Our security is up 24 hours a day), Ka
Russel said. “Wala kaming de-rehas na kulungan kaya ang close-in
security ang nagsisilbing barikada” (We have no jails, our security
forces serve as human barricade).
The
humane treatment of POWs is an imperative because of the protocols of war
but that did not mean that the custodial force put down their guard.
“Doble alerto nga kami” (We are on double alert), said Ka Russel.
“Kinabahan talaga kami nung una,” said Ka Jerlyn, “pero pagkatapos ng limang buwan, napatunayan namin na kaya naming humawak ng mga bihag.” (We were anxious at first due to inexperience but after nearly six months, we found out we can handle prisoners.) Bulatlat
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