M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his Glimpses on History & the People;s Struggle for Freedom
Chapter 41– The 4th Raid, Arrest & Detentions of Pastor Bernal and the 2nd raid, of 42 UIM & NFM Staff & Seminar Participants in Guevara Beach, Oton, Iloilo July 29-30, 1984.
On that hapless day of July 30, 1984, I experienced my 4th raid, arrests and detentions. It was also the 2nd raid, arrests and detention of the UIM and NFM staff of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches by elements of the military, under martial law at Guevara Beach, Oton, Iloilo, about 20 kilometers south of Iloilo City.
On that day, our UIM and NFM held a 2- day seminar, July 29-30, 1984 for officers of the Farmers & Sugar Cane Workers Associations, who were provided training as organizers, with tasks to train and organize new groups for the continued efforts of building core leaders of communities.
Heading the staff on that seminar day, was Ptr. Felomino Mosquera, a staff of the Sacada Development Project in Antique, the URM project of the Baptist Convention. Pastor Rudy Bernal, Director of the New Frontier Ministries (NFM), together with some UIM staff were assisting him.
During the 1st Day of the seminar, on July 29, we arrived at Guevara Beach, some 42 of us. The participants came from the villages of Passi, Lambunao, Bingawan, Calinog and and a town in Antique. The participants were leaders of the rice farmers and sugar cane workers. They were now trained for organizing works. Mr. Eupresito Galuego facilitated the self-introductions of the participants from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM on the first day.
Pastor Rudy Bernal gave the lecture at 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon. It was on basic technics on organizing. In the afternoon, at 2:00 - 4:00 PM, invited as Resource Person was Mr. Valeriano Caro, known as Tay Valer. He was a rice farmer from Oton, Iloilo. He gave a situationers on peasants and sugarcane workers, their lives and living situations, at this time, 12 years after President Marcos declared martial law.
Tay Valer was the President of KAMI-PA in Panay and Vice President for Western Visayas of Kapisanan ng mga Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP). He was a very popular speaker during his time. He was often asked to speak during big assemblies and peoples' rallies at Freedom Grandstand, Jaro Plaza and Plaza Libertad. He was later, assassinated together with his son. The family believed the Philippine Constabulary, were responsible for their assasinations, few meters away from their home, in a village in Oton.
At 4:00 – 5:00 PM, Hernani Bautista, UIM staff shared his expeerinces when he was arrested and detained by the military in Calinog on February 29, 1984, when he was arrested and detained. He shared his hard experiences under interrogation while blindfolded, one time with the barrel of the gun was was put on the back of his head by the military officers. We felt, that such hard kind of experiences during arrests and detentions, must be learned by those who were working for community developments and organizing works.
At 5:00 PM, we have our supper. Then at 6:00 PM, the participants went to the beach. They have some kind of night swimming. The coolness of the water, gave them very good time
for relaxation after a day of hard work and study. And few men and women from villages in Central Iloilo, could have time for swimming at night. . This was one of that important times.
for relaxation after a day of hard work and study. And few men and women from villages in Central Iloilo, could have time for swimming at night. . This was one of that important times.
That evening of the first day, at 8:00 PM -10:00 PM, Rev. Felomino Mosquera and Eupresito Galuego, of SACADA Development Project in Antique facilitated the study.
Bonifactio Castronuevo, a UIM staff, joined me after the seminar at 10:00 PM for home. On the way home, our Pinoy Jeep developed engine trouble. We left it at the far side of the road and went to a mechanic, requesting him to repair it early the following day. We just rode a jeep to our home, and also to Oton the following morning. Our jeep was brought by the mechanic to the seminar venue about 11:00 AM.
On the 2nd Day of the seminar, July 30, the participants joined together for breakfast at 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Eupresito Galuego facilitated the study. At 10:00 – 12:00 noon, our Resource Person was Dr. Domingo Diel, Jr., General Secretary of the Baptist Convention. At 1:30 -3:00 PM, invited Speaker was Pastor Edwin Lariza. But Dr. Diel was not able to come for his part of the lecture.
There was a mistake on the schedule of fetching him on that day for the seminar. I thought his driver, Noling will fetched him. But he allowed Noling for a free time, thinking I will fetched him. He had requested his wife, Mrs. Elsbeth Diel, a German with their son and daughter to the seminar. The young children will just go swimming on the beautiful beach
In his absence that morning, I gave the lecture. Reflecting on the event some days later, I began to think, it was providential that God did not allow the CPBC General Secretary, Dr. Diel and his German wife, German-Filipino daughter and son, some hard experiences of being raided, arrested and detained with us, and the humiliation of setting on the grounds of Camp Delgado for more than 3 hours under the sun. Or, was it possible, that with the presence of Dr. Diel, Jr. CPBC General Secretary and his German wife and children, we could not have been raided, arrested and detained for some hours at Camp Delgado? I kept thinking of possible scenarios of that day.
At 1:15 PM, Pastor Edwin Lariza, our Resource Person has already arrived. But he had lunched elsewhere. He just went to the shorelines trying to get some shells, two hundred meters away from the Session Hall.
That day, Dr. Diel requested Mrs. Elsbeth Diel with their son and daughter to the seminar. The young children will just go swimming on the beautiful beach.
In the absence of Dr. Diel that morning, I gave the lecture. Reflecting on the event some days later, I began to think, it was providential that God did not allow the CPBC General Secretary, Dr. Diel and his wife, a daughter and son, the possible experiences of being arrested with us, and humiliated setting on the grounds of Camp Delgado for more than 3 hours under the sun.
Or, was it possible, that with the presence of Dr. Diel, Jr. CPBC General Secretary and his German wife and children, we not also arrested and detained for some hours at Camp Delgado?
At 1:15 PM, Pastor Edwin Lariza, our Resource Person has already arrived. But he had lunched elsewhere. He just went to the shorelines trying to get some shells, two hundred meters away from the Session Hall.
At 1:30 PM, after lunch, thirteen (13) Philippine Constabulary soldiers, most of them in military uniforms but their faces covered and hidden with bonnets, raided the UIM and NFM seminar in Guevara Beach, Oton, Iloilo. They forced some participants to get out of their much needed rests, to go to the seminar session hall, where our studies were made.
I was in the cottage for boys. I was alone. I have gone to the cottage to get a film for my camera. I prepared to go back to the Session Hall in a minutes time. But when I looked up, I saw 6 soldiers surrounding me. They were outside the cottage whose windows with bamboo slots. Some of them in uniforms, but all their faces were partly covered.
Only their eyes were seen. The barrels of their Armalites were pointed directly on me. I stood frozen. For a while, I was not able to move. I’ve experienced three military raids before. Raids by military soldier were scary and always dangerous. A little mistake could send you to a new life, the life hereafter.
It was really hard feelings, with six gun barrels pointed directly on me, the soldiers forefingers on the triggers of their armalites. I just whispered a word of prayer. “Lord please helped me”. It seemed the answer came fast. I seemed to hear a small voice. It was faint but clear. “Don’t move your shoulder”. “Don’t move your shoulders.
I followed the faint directions of the small voice. Looking straight at the faces of the soldier before me, I saw one soldier, signal his fingers to come nearer to him. I moved towards him slowly. My right hand still holding the camera inside my bag. I tried to make sure, my shoulder won’t move. ”
When I reached near leader of the soldiers, he grabbed my hands holding the bag. Then, he opened my bag. When he opened the bag , he saw the camera I was holding a minute earlier . I saw the soldier shook his head.
Perhaps, he was thinking inside my bag was a gun. Perhaps, he nearly made a fatal mistake. It was good. I did not moved my right shoulder. It was a short message and directions, I believed God had given me. A soft, clear and a timely message. “Don’t move your shoulder.” Then, the soldiers led me to the session hall.
The other soldiers led us all participants to the session hall. Then they ordered us to ride our Pinoy Jeep and the passenger jeepney to Camp Delgado. We were six persons in the Pinoy jeep. Our three staff, our woman cook and two soldiers. But our cook was also a woman leader. She was used to leading women and men, both in seminars and works. We were now heading to Camp Delgado. The passenger jeepney that carries our group from Calinog and Lambunao, were following us. Those riding motor cycles also followed. At the end of the convoy was the military jeep, following us to Camp Delgado.
It was only later, that I learned the jeepney that brought us to Guevara Beach the previous day, but have gone back to Calinog. They will fetched the participants 3:00 PM that day, and bring them back at 4:00 PM.
The soldiers have talked to the driver and asked him to go to Guevara Beach early. They made sure we were still dear that day.
We were ordered to move on, to Camp Delgado. We were already midway from Guevara Beach to Camp Delgado, when suddenly our cook shouted. She was trembling. She was angry. Her voice was loud and shaking. She was almost shouting.
“Ngaa ginsulod mo ang imo granada sa amon bugas?” (Why did you put your hand grenade inside our sack of rice?) She was really angry. Anger with fright. She was trembling. The soldier softly and meekly said. “ Nahulog lang” (The grenade has only fallen).
I was driving. I saw what happened on my front mirror. I knew what the soldier had tried to do. What usually happened during raids and arrests of civilians. Soldiers planting guns or grenades on the belongings of arrested persons. We knew that evil soliders often do it. The constable tried to hide the hand grenade on our rice sack. Hand grenades were deadly weapon. And, if we did not know it, the military would have strong reason to arrest and put us in jail.
It seems, during the time of President Marcos martial law regime, the military and police were experts in this kinds of things and practiced with grim precision.
Our woman cook and staff was alert and brave to denounce immediately the planting of grenade in our sack of rice. If the soldier succeeded, the military would have put us in prison that day.
At Camp Delgado, we were brought to one of the areas that was vacant at the back of the building. The leader of the military group went to one of the offices. He stayed there for some times. When he came out he proceeded to another office in another building of Camp Delgado. We were left setting on the ground. The sun was hot and there were few trees to give us a little shades. We endured.
After another hour, he came to us. And he brought me to the office. The officer asked me some questions. I answered it softly and clearly. I told the officer that we’re just having a seminar. We were from the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches and our office was in Fajardo Street, Jaro. I asked why we were arrested.
He said, there were reports that NPA's or some rebels, were attending our seminars. He said, our seminar was illegal. I asked him what was illegal of having a seminar, teaching people there legal rights. But he said, anybody can be arrested for illegal assembly.
He said: "Remember, 3 persons meeting together without permission from the government, commits sedition." I thought we will be detained.
But 20 minutes later, the officer told me we can go home. That was already about 5:30 PM. We left Camp Delgado. The seminar participants from Lambunao, Duenas, Passi and Calinog went directly to their places. The participants from Antique returned riding their motor cycles.
I went to the CPBC office. I sat down on my desk. During military raids and arrests in the past, we just kept silent. We were afraid to talk. It was dangerous to talk after military raids and arrests. .
As I sat at my desk, I looked at the sky from the window. I bowed my head in prayer. " Lord, this was now the 4th raid and arrest in my life. I just kept silent. Yes, Lord, we just just kept silent. The military thought, they were right. They made us silent. And they made us to keep silent.despite the military abuses.
"Lord, help us what to do. Give us courage and strength."
Then, I felt a small pumping in my heart. It seem, the Lord is saying: "Go on!. Tell the story of your people;s raid and arrests.
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