Chapter 26 –Arrest of Pastor Rudy Bernal, at CPU College of Theology
I cannot remember the date I was arrested by a joint forces of the Philippine Constabulary and the Iloilo City Police at the College of Theology, Central Philippine University. I cannot remember even the month of that incident. I think it was after, President Ferdinand Marcos has suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Philippines. It was, perhaps, in 1971.
We felt uncertain of the possible situation, with the Suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus. Together with Atty. Nicolas Centeno, we went to Hipgos, a mountain village in Lambunao, Iloilo. We stayed several days, studying the situations and possible impact of the Suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus.
Atty. Centeno went back to Iloilo City after a week, when the situations remained normal. I decided to stay in Hipgos. We organized the Hipgos chapter in Lambunao. . Jessie Pagdato, a former rebel fighter in the army of Guillermo Capadocia, the communist revolutionary in Panay. After, organizing Hipgos, we organized several PANELFU chapters in Lambunao. I stayed there for 6 months.
One morning, I decided to go back to Iloilo City. But on reaching the town, I decided to pass by at Lambunao Baptist Church. I tried to met Rev. Floripe Herradura, the pastor. It happened that Lambunao Circuit of Baptist Churches was holding a 2-days conference there. Rev. Herradura asked me to take his part that evening and preached. I accepted. I stayed for the night and preached the Closing Celebration message. The following morning, I went to Iloilo City.
On the afternoon, I called Dr. Johnny Gumban on telephone. I missed my Dean. I called him to extend my greetings. I have not enrolled on the 2nd semester. Dr. Gumban seemed happy that I called him. He asked me to visit him and have breakfast with him the next morning. I accepted his offer. I went on with my planned activities for that afternoon.
By this time, the rebel movements has become strong in different part of Panay. Abelardo Hortada, a former student at the College of Theology, from Capiz stopped his studies at CPU. He joined the New People’s Army. He rose in the rank of peoples revolutionary army, operating in Tapaz and expanded to the hinterlands of Central Panay.
Charles de la Fuente, a brilliant student at CPU president of the Convention Baptist Youth Fellowship of the Philippines (CBYFP), left his work in a bank in Iloilo City. He went underground and joined the New Peoples Army.
The following morning, about 8:00 AM, I went to CPU and proceed to the College of Theology at Johnson Hall. Some Theology students, met me. They asked me about Abelardo Hortado. “Where was he? Did you met him? We heard, he was in Tapas. We heard you also visited PANELFU chapters in Tapaz?” I told them, I have not met Pastor Hortado, since he left CPU. And I never met him since then.
Dr. Gumban greeted me at Johnson Hall. He said, he had prepared breakfast for us. He asked me to wait for a while. He left me at the Dean’s Office. I sat at the side of the table of Mrs. Teves, Secretary of the Dean’s Office. While I was at the Dean’s Office, I saw the head of a military officer, detailed with CPU ROTC office. He was outside the window of the Dean’s Office. He was looking at me setting inside the Dean’s Office. When he saw me, he slowly walked away, trying to hide his face. I feel something was wrong.
When he came back, Dr. Gumban invited me to go up to the 2nd Floor of Johnson Hall. He said, breakfast will be served there. I went up. Breakfast was ready. I joined Dr. Gumban j for breakfast.
Then, Dr. Gumban went to the other room to receive a call. When he returned he had a strange message for me. He told me the military were looking for me. They were coming. They want to see me. I asked him. “Why Sir? Why are they looking for me? I have not done anything wrong?” He said he received information that the military were looking for me. They suspected me, I am an NPA. But he said, that was only there suspicions. But my mind was clear. I have not committed any crime.
Dr. Gumban repeated that the military would like to see me. “I said, okey. I will met them.” A few minutes later, I saw two jeepneys filled with uniformed soldiers, entering the grounds of Johnson Hall. I stood up and looked at the window. I saw soldiers jumped out of vehicles and surrounded Johnson Hall. From the 2nd Floor, I tried to come down to the Dean’s Office.
But before going down the Dean’s Office, I stood at the railings on the 2nd Floor for a short moment. I prayed. It was a silent prayer. “Lord, please help me. Please give me strength and courage. And please teach me to give the right answers, without fears.”
The leader of the military officer came to me at the Deans Office. He was courteous. But his face was stearn. He said, he was inviting me to the headquarter. Their commander would like to see me. He has some questions to ask me. I asked him why? What crime did I commit? He just said, their commander would like to see me.
I was not investigated at Johnson Hall. I was escorted out of Johnson Hall and we walked towards CPU Administration building. Dr. Gumban said: “ You must not worry. I will send you a blanket and a pillow”. That caused me a little worry. I asked myself. “Why will Dr.Gumban send me a blanket and pillow”.
Dr. Gumban told me that I must not worry. They will just asked me some few questions. But I felt, with some 20 soldiers coming to get me, they were not going to ask me a few questions. I was escorted out of CPU, walking until we reached the Administration building.
Some soldiers walked ahead of me Some walked beside. Some were at the back, following me. I have a strange feeling, escorted by some 20 uniformed soldiers, with high powered guns. I could hardly explain how I felt. It was a strange feeling in my heart. “I was arrested. But my arrest was made soft, by telling me, I am ‘invited’ to the headquarters. It was an invitation, that I cannot say no. It was a command. I was ordered to go with the soldiers to the headquarters.”
The road from Johnson Hall to the CPU administration building was about 120 meters. But I felt it was a long road. It was a long and hard road to travel. The road has many students, some standing on the road side, some walking. They were all looking at me, escorted by uniformed and stearn faced soldiers.
Some students, I knew. Some were friends. They raised their hands, acknowledging me. I don’t knew If I feel proud with soldiers escoring me. Or I must be ashamed with soldiers escorting me? It was just a strange feeling. I told myself, I must faced this with courage and strength.
I looked staright at the faces of the students standing beside the road. I tried to stand straight. I tried to stand as toll as possible. I smile to some whom I knew. Some raised their hands. They extended me their friendly gestures. One thing, I remembered. When your mind was clear, when your conscience is clean, you do not have feelings of fear.
I rode in the jeepney flanked by the police officers I was brought to a room in the police headquarters af General Luna Street. I was asked a few questions. Then, I was left alone in the room. I was left for about an hour. I just set there alone inside the room. It was a hard feeling to be arrested, brought to an empty room and left for an hour.
Then, another officer came. He asked me of my involvedment with PANELFU. I told the him, I am Chairman of the Education Committee. We handle the training of the members on labor education and organzing. We help farmers and workers gain strength thru organized and peaceful works.
The investigator asked me the case of Rex Betita, a student of Iloilo City College who was killed. His assailants remained unknown. He asked me what happened to Rex. Why was he killed. I told him I do not know. Rex Betita was my relative from Carles. He also studied at Lyceum of the Philippines in High School. We have worked together in PANELFU. But for almost a year, before he was killed, we have no communications. More questions were asked. I answered him softly and clear. Then, he left the room. I stayed alone in the room, again for an hour.
Then another officer came. He was quite hard and stern. No friendly smiles. He asked me some questions again. I answered him softly and clearly. He asked of my studies and involvement in Manila. I answered him of my work there. I told him, I worked before with the Philippines Herald newspaper in Manila. I told him, I was News Editor of Agence France Presse, an international news agency. That I am in newspaper works for some years. The officer looked at me. His stern faced lossened. His face seemed to loose its stearness.
He asked me some other questions. But his words were now soft and mild. It was only then, that I realized the power of words and communications. It was at that moment, the 3rd Investigator, that I was able to tell who I am, and what I represent then. It was there, that my being a newspaper man before, put me on an equal putting with a military officer. I think, he saw me, not a student only, nor only a farmer.
Then, the Officer left again. He was away for about 15 minutes. I sat again alone inside the office. When he returned, the officer, told me I can go home. He asked me for my address in the city. He said, if they need me, they will send a message. That I will come..
I went home that afternoon to Jessie Pagdato’s hut near La Paz market. I took a bath. Then, rested for some minutes
About 4:30, I went to the College of Theology. But in a restaurants at the front of CPU, Bernard Hervias, also a Theology student saw me. He went straight to me. He ordered soft drinks and we sat on a table. He was puzzled I came back fast after my arrest. He thought I will stay in prison for sometimes. He asked me what happened. He asked me why I was released. Bernard Hervias, can’t believed. I am free. Then, he said. Rudy, perhaps you are a “double agent”. He be He thought, I am an NPA. Also attached to the military. That’s Bernard Hervias.
In May 6, 2017, during the College of Theology Alumni Reunion at Ancheta Hall, at the Registration Desk, we met. We have not met for many years. Pastor Bernard Hervias, in jest, said. “Here’s the ‘double agent’. He was arrested by the military in the morning. Then in the afternoon, he’s released and sent back home.” We laughed again together.
It was quite a good experience in life. It was the 2nd arrest I experienced. The first, when I was arrested in Manila and have to slept for some hours of the night at the Police jail. I was released when a friend, after my call, telling him I am in police custody. He came at 2:00 AM. He knew the desk officer. He asked him to release me.
Military and police arrests, are not easy experiences in life. You can die, without knowing it. A wrong move, can send an arrested person, to the other side of life. But, prayer, taught me something. Prayers change situations in life.
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