Chapter 40 –1971: First Arrest of Rudy Bernal

It was in mid-1971. It was a hard day, a day that carried uncertainties, doubts and pains. That morning, at 10:40 a.m. I was arrested by joint forces of the Philippine Constabulary and Iloilo City Police at the College of Theology, Central Philippine University, Iloilo City.

I was arrested by some 20 constabulary and police officers. It was few days after President Ferdinand Marcos suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus in the whole country.

We felt uncertain of the situation with suspension of the Writ of Habias Corpus. Together with .Atty. Nicolas Centerno, legal counsel of PANELFU , we went to Hipgos, a mountain village of Lambunao, Iloilo where they have banana and corn planted in their 45 hectares. We stayed several days in Hipgos studying the situation and repercusions of the suspension of the Writ of Habias Corpus.

Some six months before I and Frank Carilimdiliman Vice Chair of PANELFU Education Committee have gone to Hipgos and several villages around, providing labor education seminars to farmers and farm workers in some Lambunao villages who were PANELFU members.

Atty. Centeno went back to Iloilo City after a week when the situations remained normal. I decided to stay in Hipgos several weeks more. I tried to follow-up and visit some officers of PANELFU in 4 nearby villages. I stayed in the house of Jessie Pagdato, a former rebel fighter in the army of Guillermo Capadocia, the communist revolutionary leader, who was killed in the hinterland of Panay.

Jessie Pagdato, was an officer of PANELFU chapter in Hipgos. But now living with his family in La Paz, Iloilo City. He go back to their house in Hipgos every first week of the month. He had to check on the banana plantations of Atty Centeno that he cared.

Jessie had a sister in Canada who always sent a letter to him. She encourage Jessie to always read newspapers. She wanted him to speak simple English. I helped taught Jessie to speak English. Her sister said she would invite Jessie to Canada later. Jessie had 7 children both sons and daughters with his wife.

His eldest, a son is a soldier at Camp Delgado. A daughter is graduating in college. I often stayed with Jessie and his family in La Paz near the public market. I was not able to visit them anymore due to my works in the labor union. Several months later, I heared Jessie was invited by her sister to Canada. He went. And after several months more his other daughter went to Canada. In 2 years, Jessie's , wife and 7 children were in Canada. Only his eldest son was left, a soldier in Iloilo. I did not meet Jessie anymore.

After about a month in Hipgos and nearby villages, I went back to Iloilo City. Reaching the town, I decided to pass by Lambunao Baptist Church. I decided to see Rev. Floripe Herradura, the pastor. A year ago, we were classmates on Homilitics, under Rev. Floyd Roseberry, an American missionary.

It happened that Lambunao Circuit of Baptist Churches was holding a 2-day conference. There were about 170 delegates that day.

Rev. Herradura invited me to take his part and preach that evening. I accepted. I stayed for a night and preach the Closing Celebration message. It was a new challenge. For more than a year, I was not able to attend Baptist church services. I was deeply engrossed in farmers’ organizing and labor education works in the villages of Panay.

That night, as part of the challenge, I called on the delegates, mostly sons and daughters of farmers to join me in organizing farmers and sugarcane workers and participate in the work for that will bring equality, justice, land reforms and liberation.

The following morning, a friend who attended worship that night, a pastor of a church in Janiuay invited me to join him. He told me, Janiuay Circuit of Baptist Churches have a conference in Calvario Baptist Church that day. Some 10 churches in the circuit will attend. More than 200 pastors, church leaders and members will attend..

I attended the afternoon and evening sessions at Calvario Baptist Church and participated in the discussions. There, I found that a big number of the delegates who were older, were PANELFU members in Janiuay and Badiangan villages.

We had a very good group discussion and soon, many questions were raised on the Land Reforms program and what we can do together to help farmers get better shares as tenants of big land holders. We continued with the services in the circuit. That afternoon, I left for Iloilo City.

I went direct to the CPBC office in Jaro. I stayed there for the night with Jun Fabellore, who was working there. That evening, I called Dr. Johnny Gumban, Dean of the College of Theology on the telephone. I missed my Dean for nearly a year. For the second time, I quit my studies at the College of Theology, and joined the labor union. That evening, I called Dr. Gumban to extend my greetings.

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 that evening.

By this time, the revolutionary movements was getting strong in different part of Iloilo and Panay. The Kabataang Makabayan (KM) has become strong in the universities and colleges and in the slums of Iloilo and other provinces. Several Convention Baptist Pastors and church leaders have joined the revolutionary movement. Many Baptist young people who were KM members, have gone to the countrysides and submerged with the people, learning the realities of people's lives in the city and the countryside.

Abelardo Hortada, a student of the College of Theology from Capiz stopped his studies at CPU. He joined the New People’s Army. He rose in the ranks of the New People’s Army operating in Tapaz and expanded to the hinterlands of Central Panay.

Charles de la Fuente, a brilliant student at CPU, former 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 People’s Army. He became a top leader of the revolutionary movements. He was captured in a mountain village in Aklan. He was killed. His body was brought to his parents house in Jaro, Iloilo City. It was broken and heavily tortured. Quite a number of Bapitst young people in Panay had gone to the mountains and joined the New People’s Army. A number of Baptist young people died fighting the martial law government of President Marcos.

John de la Fuente, younger brother of Charles and a brilliant and militant student was killed by the military in Jaro, Iloilo City. Charles and his brother John de la Fuente met heroic deaths in the hands of Marcos military.

In Negros Occidental, I learned that many young people in the Baptist Church have joined the New Peoples Army. Pastor Samuel Antonio and his wife, left their church and joined the New People’s Army when they experciened harassment in their mountain church. He was the first pastor of a Convention Baptist Church to join the New People’s Army in Negros Occidental.

The following morning on Dr. Gumban’s invitation about 8:00 a.m. I went to CPU and proceeded to the College of Theology at Johnson Hall. Some students met me and asked me about Abelardo Hortado. 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 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 Dr. Gumban. 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. I looked at him. When he saw me, he looked down and slowly walked away, trying to hide his face. I felt something was wrong.

When Dr. Gumban came back, he invited me to go up to the 2nd Floor of Johnson Hall. Breakfast will be served there. I went up. Breakfast was ready. I joined Dr. Gumban.

Then, Dr. Gumban went to the other room to receive a call. When he returned he had a strange message. He said: "Rudy, the Philippine Constabulary are looking for you. They are coming. They want to see you.” I asked him: “Why Sir? Why this Constabulary were looking for me? I have not done anything wrong?” He said, they suspected you. They were thinking you are an NPA. That is only their suspicions.

My mind was clear. I have not committed any crime. I was just helping educate and organize farmers and laborers to know their rights and stand for those rights.

Dr. Gumban repeated that the military would like to see me. I said, “Ok Sir, I will meet them. “ A minutes later, I saw two jeepneys full with uniformed soldiers. They were entering the grounds of Johnson Hall. I stood up and looked at the window. I saw soldiers, with guns on their arms jumped out of the two vehicles and surrounded Johnson Hall.

From the 2nd Floor, I look down on the grounds around Johnson Hall. The soldiers have already surrounded Johnson Hall. I decided to go down to the First Floor, at the dean’s office. I was not able to finish eating my breakfast that morning.

Before going down to 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. Please teach me to answer questions asked of me, without hesitation and fear.”

The leader of the military officer came to me at the deans office. He was courteous but his face was stern. He told me: “We are inviting you to the headquarters. Our commander would like to see you. He has some questions to ask you.” I asked him , “Why? What crimes have I committed?” He ignored my questions. He just said, "Our commander would like to see you.".

I was not investigated at Johnson Hall. I was escorted out of Johnson Hall and we walked towards CPU administration building. Before I left Johnson Hall, Dr. Gumban told me. “Rudy do not worry. The military will ask just ask you some question.”. But I felt, with more than 20 soldiers coming to get me, they were not going to ask me just a few questions. I was escorted out of the College of Theology. I walked together with several soldiers towards the Administration building.

Some soldiers walked ahead of me. Some walked beside me. Some followed at my back, I had a strange feeling, as I was escorted by some 20 uniformed soldiers with high powered guns. I could hardly explain how I felt. I felt a silent throbbing in my heart, mind and soul. I knew I was arrested. But my arrest is made soft and lovely. I was told I am just ‘invited’ to the headquarters. It was an invitation. I can accept or reject an invitation. But my invitation this morning is different. I cannot say no. I cannot turn it down. My invitation from the police was a powerful command. I was ordered to go with the soldiers to the military headquarters.”

The road from Johnson Hall to the CPU administration building was about 120 meters. But I feel I was walking a long, hard, steep and winding road. The short road was lined up with many students, some standing on the roa side, some walking. They were looking at me, escorted by uniformed and stern- faced soldiers.

I knew some of the students who stood there. Some raised their hands acknowledging me. I did not know if I felt proud with soldiers escorting me. Or, maybe a feeling of shame. With heavily armed soldiers escorting me? It was such a strange feeling! I told myself I must face this with courage and strength.

I looked straight at the faces of the students standing beside the road. I stood tall and as straight as possible. I smiled at some students whom I know. Some raised their hands. They extended me their friendly gestures. One thing I remembered. When your mind is clear, when your conscience is clean, you do not have feelings of fear, even with armed soldiers taking you to a place you do not know where.

I rode in the jeepney flanked by the police officers. I was brought to a room in the Police Headquarters at General Luna Street. There at the Police Headquarters I was asked to set on a chair by a table. I was asked several questions. “Why were you at CPU this morning? What course were you taking? Where do you stay here in Iloilo City?” I answered him. He asked me a few more questionsl Then, I was left alone in the room for more than an hour. I just sat there alone inside the room. It was hard feelings to be arrested, Asked a few questions by an officer. Then left in an empty room for an hour, just setting down.

Then, another officer joined the previous one. They asked me of my involvements with PANELFU. “What was your involvement PANELFU. You were seen going around several towns in Iloilo, Pavia, San Miguel, Leganes, San Dionisio, Ajuy. What were you doing there?” Softly and clearly, I answered the Officers." Sir, I am Chairman of PANELFU Education Committee. We handled training of members on labor education and helped organized them. We helped farmers and workers gain strength thru organized and peaceful works."

The Officers 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 them, " Sir, I do not know why Rex was killed. Rex Betita was my relative from Carles. He also studied at Lyceum of the Philippines in High School. He was working and studying here in Iloilo City. We worked together here in PANELFU. But for almost a year, we have no communications. I was always in towns training our members on labor organzing." More questions were asked. I answered softly and clearly. Then, they left the room. I stayed alone in the room, again for more than an hour.

Then an Officer brought me some meals. He told me to eat lunch. It was already 1:30 p.m. I thanked the officer. I told him, I am full. I am not eating lunch. Then he shut me some questions . Why I was a Hipgos village some weeks ago? Was I a speaker at Lambunao Circuit conference 2 days ago? Did I attend and participated in conference at Calvario Evangelical Church two nights ago? I answered all the questions of the officer questioning me. But I cannot believe he knows my whereabouts the last two days. I realized the intelligence network of the military was wide and in many cases reliable.

Then another officer joined them. He looked harder and more stern than the other two. He asked me of my involvements when I was student at Lyceum of the Philippines. Softly and clearly, I told the officers. “Yes, Sir I studied at Lyceum of the Philippines. I studied there for 3 years, I took political science. I also worked as Police Reporter of the Philippines Herald for more than a year. We worked with General Manuel Yan, the National Police Director. Two years ago, I was employed by Agence France Presse (AFP) to be News Editors and Diplomatic reported.” The Police Officer continued to ask me questions. But his words were softer and mild. It seems even friendly. It is only then, I realized the power of words and communications. It was, the 3rd Investigator, that I was able to tell him who I am, and what I represent. 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. He saw me not a farmer only. I am also a newspaperman and a diplomatic reporter. I can tell the whole country and the world, our simple but hard encounter today.

Then, the Officers left again. They were away for about 30 minutes. I sat again alone inside the office. When an officer returned, the he told me I can go home. He asked me my address in the city. I gave him my address. It was care, Rev. Ernesto Carvajal, Jaro Evangelical Church, Jaro, Iloilo City. The officer said, if they need me, they may send a message. And I must come.

I went home that afternoon to Jessie Pagdato’s hut near La Paz market. I took a bath. Then, rested for some 30 minutes

About 4:30, I went back to CPU at 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 asked me to set on a table. He was puzzled. Why 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 believe, I am free. Then, he said. “Rudy, perhaps you are a “double agent”. You are an NPA. Also attached to the military.” That's Bernard Hervias, my classmate and friend. He is careless. He sometimes spoke without thinking about the implications of his words. But we were close friends.

In May 6, 2017, many years later, again Bernard Hervias and I met during the College of Theology Alumni Reunion at Ancheta Hall, CPU. We met at the Registration Desk. 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 went back to CPU. College of Theology” We laughed again together with some of our classmates joining us.

It was very hard experience in life to be arrested by the police and constabulary officers. It was the first arrest I experienced that day.

My 2nd arrest happened about 7 months later. It was in my parents home in Cawayan, Carles, Iloilo. Some 12 Constabulary officers surrounded our home from 11:a.m. to 5:30 a.m. I was arrested at 5:30 a.m. when I went down from our house and went to our garden, with a Lampara light. There an officer was standing beside a coconut tree. He came to me and we talk. As we were talking the other soldiers surrounding our house stood and with their guns came near us. The officer told me to call my father, the barangay captain to have coffee with them. We prepared coffee, Then the officer said, Capitan, we were asked by the Commander to bring Rudy to him. That morning at 7:00 a.m. I was escorted by the constabulary officers to their headquarters in Sara, Iloilo.

Our 3rd raid and arrest by constabulary officers were in March 1, 1984 in Cabudian Baptist Church, Cabudian, Iloilo at 6:00 a.m. We were attending a seminar on labor education February 28-March 1. About 3:00 a.m. two pastors came to me and told me three of our staff were arrested that night. They were held at the constabulary office, at the back of Calinog Municipal Hall. I awakened the other participants and told them, if they have to go out of the church and go to nearby houses and stay there before going home in the morning. I think, the churh will be raided few hours later.

The participants went out of the church and the parsonage and went to some houses nearby. The arresting officers came by daylight. That time, 7 of us were left and preparing to go, when the raiding team came. We were arrested and brought to their headquarters at the back of Calinog Municipal hall.

Our 4th raid and arrest was during our seminar in Guevara Beach, Oton, Iloilo on Ju;y 29-30, 1984. In the afternoon of July 30, we were brought to Camp Delgado for the whole afternoon. I was investigated. Some of our participants were questioned. The others were left under the heat of the sun, some seating under small trees in the camp.

Military and police arrests, were not easy experiences in life. You can die, without knowing why. A wrong move can send an arrested person to the other side of life and eternity. Prayers taught me one thing. Prayers have power. It can change situations in life. Prayers, with God, was my company in moments in times of needs.