NewsRecord Weekly Publication

Soldier's Pen

By By BGen. Alexander Cabales (Ret.)

Relevance of CPP-NPA

"Those that are weak, unprotected and desperate always seek for borrowed power.  They seek refuge with any group that can give them strength, security and hope." 

                This was the gist of the exchange between the lead actor and another character in a movie that I watched very early on the morning of April 24.  The movie was based on a true story (less the cinematic twists that were placed to make it more saleable to the viewing public) of a young and idealistic lieutenant who was killed in a heroic battle against members of the New People's Army in Cabugao, Apayao sometime in 1985. 

                This article however, would not be about that officer's heroism but an attempt to answer the question as to why many of our fellow Filipinos still join the New People's Army, fight the government, and are willing to die for their cause.

                There were two reasons that were cited in that movie which made the natives of the Cordilleras join the NPA.  The first was their objection to the Chico Dam project of the government which may be difficult to understand and would not be of interest to most of my readers as it has something to do with their local culture and beliefs. 

                The second was the indifference of the government to the plight of the people, its failure to address their concerns, and its inability to protect their rights.  Specifically, the movie showed the depredations and abuses of the illegal loggers in the area which the government, through the police and the military, failed to address.  This was a case of a group of peace loving people who turned to violence because of the government's inaction to stop the abuses of the rich and fight corruption in the system.

                For three days in a row, the Friendly Observer, a fellow columnist of this paper, was pressing me for comments on an article of yet another columnist which was on the front page of the April 6 - 13 issue of the NewsRecord.  The title of that article was "The Untold 4Ps Saga." It tells of the anomalies made by the implementers of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or the Conditional Cash Transfer Program of the government.              

                The revelation of the author on the alleged donations/extortions/pay-offs/bribes when money was given by the poor beneficiaries to the people of a specific government agency whose job is to help the poor is very alarming.  The claim that money was given voluntarily does not absolve anyone of wrong doing.  We know that it is a crime for any government official to accept a gift no matter how small from any of its clients for obvious reasons.  Moreover, the alibi of voluntary contribution is hardly acceptable.  We have seen it happen before in similar programs of government in the past.  No one would believe it now and once again we say "Tell it to the Marines!"

                The case in point may be a minor matter that the city government of San Carlos may not even give so much attention to it.  After all, not any of the beneficiaries made a strong objection much less made even a whimper until the NewsRecord came up with the story.  The money involved was very small compared to some cases in the past when huge amounts were involved and the suspects were but reluctantly charged and in a very slow process that their cases were soon buried by time. 

                Now, however, the situation may be different.  In the past, some officials were charged for stealing from the public coffers and therefore the aggrieved party is the government. This time, the aggrieved parties are individuals, poor people from the country sides who literally have less in life.  Their grievances may not be heard in the right forum but their pain and suffering are clearly seen and felt by some organized groups that seek reforms in our sick society.  The people's moans ring like bells that make the CPP and the NPA continue to become relevant in the lives of the poor, the underprivileged and the exploited.

                So just like in the movie that I watched, this young officer gave his life trying to make a difference in the lives of the common folk. He made the supreme sacrifice in solving the cancer of corruption and the indifference of those that govern.  He was not corrupt nor was he indifferent to the sufferings of the people but it was he who took the brunt of the people's wrath. How many more of our soldiers would die like him just to help solve a problem that was not of their own making?  Many would not care.  They are not the ones who die anyway!