SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHERN MINDANAO – After the massive funeral march tribute for the slain New People’s Army commander, Leoncio “Ka Parago” Pitao, armed New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas also paid their last tribute to Ka Parago with the honorary 21-gun salute in the foothills of Mt. Apo on Sunday.
A commanding officer commanded the platoon for live firing for the honorary gun salute. The guerrillas marched towards the center of a clearing as the crowd milled around, bringing flags of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), National Democratic Front (NDF), and the NPA.
Twenty-one members lined up.
After the 21-gun salute, the NPAs and community members chanted “Long live Ka Parago!”, “Long live the Filipino people!”, “Long live the New People’s Army” and “Long live the Communist Party of the Philippines!”
The NPA Mt. Apo Sub-regional Operations Command performed the tribute followed by a short Luksang Parangal (necrological tribute) prepared by its organs of political power in the community.
During the luksang parangal, Ka Teresa, a leader of a local clandestine organization they call, “people’s government”, said that the tribute “is a salute to a martyr who died defending the poor.”
“Despite the loss of a comrade [Ka Parago], we will not be weary but will continue the revolution and continue to support the revolution,” she said.
Ka Teo, who said he worked with Parago during his early years in the movement, would attest how Ka Parago is well-loved by the masses.
“Even during the times when Ka Parago was being chased by soldiers, he easily escaped them because of the support of the masses,” he said.
“He has a tight relation and connection with the masses, which is a must. [Because] If you are detached from the masses, there will be no reason for you to be called a revolutionary,” he added.
Ka Teo said Parago’s death “raises theirs (NPA) and the masses’ moral because he [Ka Parago] shows what a true revolutionary (is).”
“It’s not new to us,” Ka Teo said.
“It is clear in our organization that it is not only one person operating and leading. The mass number of platoons and regular forces are still there and will grow more specifically in Paquibato [Davao City],” he said.
“Maybe there will be more to add to the exisiting company in the area due to the anger that the masses feel towards the brutality of the military,” he added.
In addition, Ka Kulafu of the CPP said that what the military claims is just “another cover up to their failure of their counter-insurgency campaign [Oplan Bayanihan].”
“They said that they will eliminate all forces of NPA, but we already reached our 46th year and (we are) going stronger because the oppression against the people is still there,” Ka Kulafu said. (davaotoday.com)
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