August 30, 2014—Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, a total of 117 delegates participated in the fact finding mission organized by Karapatan Central Luzon. Pi Sigma Fraternity, Pi Sigma Delta Sorority, Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity, Kabataan Partylist, Anakbayan, Alyansa ng mga magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) and other farmers’ organization joined the two-day mission.
Brod Raymond Basilio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers and I, drove to Nueva Ecija together with KODAO productions, a media outfit. We arrived at Cabanatuan City at around 8:30 in the morning. The delegates had a caravan to the Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC).
PPSC, Cabanatuan City–Where Cadano and Salonga are currently detained
We were asked by the military to stop the protest outside PPSC
Meeting Guiller and Gerald at PPSC
It was my first time to meet brod Guiller and Gerald after their abduction by the AFP swept headlines. As a staff of Karapatan tasked to respond to Quick Reaction Response, I was suppose to go to Nueva Ecija upon learning that there were two students abducted by the AFP. I was then clueless that one of them is brod Guiller. After waiting for news in Nueva Ecija, Sr. Cecille Ruiz of Karapatan Central Luzon told us that the two had been found and in the custody of the PPSC.
Upon reaching PPSC we had to deal with the harassment of the military. They took photos and videos of the delegates and asked us to halt the picket outside but we asserted that it is our democratic right to freely express ourselves. I confronted one of the military to stop taking photos/videos of us. He argued that one of our companions are taking videos too. I had to clear to him that our companion is a media person and it is his job to cover the mission and the AFP had no right to photograph every delegate of the mission only to make profiles of us and to be targeted in the future.
After series of negotiations, we were only given an hour to talk to Guiller. His visitors took turns every 10 minutes just to accommodate everyone who wants to see him. I stayed for the entire hour to clear the story gaps in the fact sheet of the incident that we had.
Guiller’s face lit up upon seeing his father along with his colleagues from Anakbayan, Kabataan Partylist and Pi Sigma. Guilly, as he was called, had gone a little thinner, said his close friends. There were exchange of how are yous, hugs and handshakes. Guiller was happy and somehow relieved, I can tell.
With Brod Guiller, Brod Raymond and UP Clark LE Sis Jean
Guiller recounted his ordeal with the military. I can feel his fear during the entire time that he does not anymore own his life. He admitted to making up stories just to give the military what they want to hear. He said he is recovering but he did not regret that he immersed with the farmers and ended up in prison. “Hindi ako kriminal,” he said. He even challenged the youth to stand up and contribute for genuine social change.
An hour quickly passed and we had to say goodbye to the two. Guiller asked for a cigarette and I gave him my entire pack and a lighter. He also got the books and some shirt I brought. I promised that we will carry the campaign and exhaust all our efforts for his immediate release.
Stepping into Carranglan Soil
After the jail visit, we headed to the community in Carranglan where Guiller and Gerald were abducted. It was a two-hour drive from Cabanatuan City.
We were informed that the military was stationed in the gymnasium near the Brgy. hall of Brgy. T.L. Padilla in Carranglan. They pulled out on the day of our mission. There were 13 houses in the community surrounded by vast tract of lands and mountain ranges. The area was already close to Nueva Vizcaya. We immediately break into teams to get more information regarding Guiller and Gerald’s arrest and other human rights violatios in the community.
Early morning of August 31. It was breathtaking in the area. Hidden behind the fog are beautiful mountain ranges.
Rich Carranglan soil where first class palay grows. I talked to Mang Narciso, barangay kagawad of T.L. Padilla. , he said that palays are bought to them for 18 Pesos per kilo and will eventually be sold to market for 50 Pesos per kilo. They had no other source of income while waiting for harvest.
This is where Cadano and Salonga were abducted on August 9.
More violations unfold
I talked to the Lola Valentina, 88, one of the residents in Brgy. T.L. Padilla. He said that the military dragged Guiller out of the house. “He was having a fever that day because of his skin boil. When they got him, they stepped on his skin boil. Guiller screamed and cried out of pain. I almost claim that they were my grandsons but they quickly took them away,” she said. “They were also asking me and other residents to take our long firearms out, but I had none. They came back 20 minutes after and went back again at 7 o’clock in the evening,” she continued.
Our interviews revealed that they searched all the 13 houses in the community, harassed and threatened the people, young and old.
Tatay Boy Cadano and his undying support to his son
I initiated a small talk with tatay Boy Cadano, Guiller’s father to know more about his only child. Tatay Boy proudly told me about Guiller’s excellent performance in school from grade school until he graduated cum laude in UP Clark. I had to remain composed while he was telling his story.
I was quite surprised to hear so much from this old man that I had to ask: “alam niyo po ba na aktibista ang anak niyo at kung ano ang ginagawa niya?” He lit a cigarette and offered me one before answering my question:“Pinili niya iyon, alam namin kung saan siya nagpupunta, nagpunta siya noong SONA sa Maynila, sumama siya sa Lakbayan ng mga magsasaka, nagpupunta sa iba ibang lugar. Marangal ang ginagawa ng anak ko. Tumutulong siya sa mga magsasaka. Marami silang (magsasaka)problema dito.” Guiller must have been so lucky to have such supportive parents–unusual for many activist child like me.
Tatay Boy is thankful to Guiller’s brods and sisses for all the help he received right after Guiller was arrested. Tatay Boy is a retired bank employee and stays with his wife in Valenzuela. “Dalawa na lang kami sa bahay ng asawa ko. Minsan nagkakasakit siya pero pag pupunta dito kay Guiller nawawala ang sakit. Nagsasalitan kami sa pagbisita kay Guiller dahil magastos sa pamasahe,” he said. Tatay Boy told me that after Guiller’s arrest, his relatives stayed away from them and expressed their fear of getting dragged to the case for bearing “Cadano” surname but he said “hinahayaan ko na lang, alam ko naman na walang kasalanan ang anak ko.” Tatay Boy also said that he saw the alleged firearms and explosives recovered from Guiller, he kidded Guiller “Anak nakita ko yung sinasabi nilang mga baril mo tsaka yung lalagyan ng mga granada at bala, ang ganda pala.” Guiller replied “tatay, takot nga ako humawak ng baril at hindi ko alam ang itsura ng mga iyon.”
Tatay Boy and I exchanged numbers and I promised to see him in Manila and all our events and campaigns for the release of Guiller.
At night we, had a short solidarity program with the community. Farmers sing while others recited a poem and solidarity messages. Upon receiveing his award, tatay Boy said: ” Maraming salamat po sa suporta niyo sa anak ko. Si Noynoy Aquino ang gusto niya hindi land for the landless, kundi land for the landlords.” I was quite surprise how he had a grasp of the peasants’ issues, I thought that maybe, Guiller must be a good son, a good organizer and had painstakingly mass worked at home–one thing I cannot figure out how to do.
The farmers from AMGL also recognized Gerald’s mother and Guiller’s father who were also with us during the mission as “Ulirang Magulang.” We were also joined by Fr. Ernie Pesimo.
The night ended and everybody find their own places to settle. It was not the first time that I have attended fact finding missions which are usually in far flung and heavily militarized areas, I was not able to sleep well. I would occasionally wake up, keeping myself alert 24/7 as much as possible.
Fr Ernie to the people of Carranglan: They are not NPAs
Early morning of August 31, we prepared for a concelebrated mass by Fr. Ernie and Fr. Lloyd Nepomuceno. Father Ernie had a meaningful homily about Gerald and Guiller. He introduced them to people of Carranglan as good individuals and not NPAs. Fr. Ernie said he personally knew the two and they were helping Fr. Ernie with his research on the plight of the farmers.
Protest outside San Nicolas Parish Church, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija
After the mass, we went to San Jose City district jail for a quick visit to another political prisoner, Fernando Salazar.
The group headed for lunch at the Bishop Roberto Mallari’s residence in San Jose City. We also sought audience with him regarding the case of Guiller and Gerald. The farmers also address their land problems to the diocese of San Jose City. Bishop Mallari committed to extend help to the farmers of Central Luzon.
We also had a short program in front of the San Jose City public market and distributed leaflets to market-goers and passers-by.
With Tatay Boy Cadano and brod Raymond Basilio at San Jose City Public Market
I told Guiller I was able to visit him because of the help of Pi Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association Inc., and he has this short message to say to all his brods and sisses:
I was glad to see Brod Guiller and the life that he embraced despite the many opportunities along his way as a passionate, hopeful and intelligent youth. But he had to sacrifice the little comforts of his peti-bourgeois life to struggle with the wide exploited masses. He does not only carry the principles of his organizations, he took the path less travelled, walked barefoot with the peasants and served the people even if it cost him his life and liberty. My salute and highest respect to a son, a brod and a comrade. ###