NDFP condemns murder of comrade ‘Ka Bendoy’

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has condemned the killing of its ranking officer Alfredo Merilos, alias Bendoy.

The NDFP gave Merilos the highest honors for advancing the Philippine revolution, NDFP national executive committee member Luis Jalandoni said in a statement posted on the NDFP website on Thursday.

Merilos was killed in an alleged encounter with a joint team of the police and the military in Naga City, Camarines Sur on Mar. 15.

“We condemn the Duterte regime and its fascist troopers for the murder of Comrade Bendoy and their many crimes against the people,” Jalandoni said.

He said Merilos deserved the highest honors the NDFP could give to its fellow revolutionaries.

“An outstanding revolutionary cadre who served the Filipino people with boundless warmheartedness, Comrade Alfredo ‘Ka Bendoy’ Merilos advanced the Philippine revolution since the time of the Marcos dictatorship until the Duterte regime’s troops murdered him a few days ago,” he added. A mechanical engineering board passer, Merilos opted to become a revolutionary.

“Lucrative job opportunities failed to entice him. He decided to work as a full-time organizer in schools and communities. After a few years, he decided to toil and build among the masses in the countryside as a Red fighter,” Jalandoni said in describing Merilos.

He said Merilos became a valuable party cadre in the movement’s regional instruction bureau and used his talents to ensure the political development of Red fighters and commanders.

Merilos’ humor helped formed the regional party publication Silyab acquire an effective and youthful character, Jalandoni said. “Through the years, his cadre quality saw him rise to higher responsibilities, until he was elected regular member of the Regional Party Executive Committee. He attended the Second Party National Congress in 2016 and was elected a regular member of the Central Committee.”

Merilos’ experience in party-building, troop leadership and immersion in the masses enabled him to understand the needs and deepest aspirations of the poor. Jalandoni said this made Merilos a fountain and guide for the next generation of party cadres.

“We render the highest honors to comrade Alfredo Ka ‘Bendoy’ Merilos. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and kin, his comrades and the masses whose hearts he touched. We grieve his untimely martyrdom, but we turn our grief into revolutionary courage,” Jalandoni said.

‘NPA strength declining’

Believing that the rebel group’s strength and numbers are decreasing, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said a total of 28 New People’s Army (NPA) leaders surrendered to the military during the first three months of 2018.

The AFP said the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) posted the most number of surenderees with 17.

Among those who recently surrendered was Edwin Coquilla, alias “Jemar,” a former squad leader of the NPA’s north eastern Mindanao regional committee.

Coquilla, who surrendered to the Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Tago, Surigao del Sur on March 11, yielded nine improvised explosive devices.

Three ranking NPA leaders also surrendered in Compostela Valley and Davao del Sur during the first week of February.

They were identified as Geraldo Baro alias Arnold, former vice commander of NPA Guerrilla Front 27; Alvie Marie Cominador, alias Ara, secretary of GF 51 and Shane Rosete Cacdac, alias Neo, staff officer of an NPA sub-regional committee.

Baro yielded to the 71st IB on Feb. 7. Cominador and Cacdac to the 73rd on Feb 1.

In January, five NPA leaders also yielded to the military. Among them were Noel Legaspi, alias Efren, deputy secretary of the NPA Far South Mindanao Region command, and his wife Jeanalyn, alias Wendy, FSMR medical officer.

The couple yielded to the 27th IB in South Cotabato on Jan. 15.

Also notable was the surrender of a certain alias “Simon,” a former vice team leader of GF 71-FSMR, who yielded on Jan. 23 to the 73rd IB in Sarangani.

Two other rebel leaders, identified as Randy Atong and Renie Atenza, finance officer and team leader of GF 51, respectively, yielded in Davao Del Sur on Jan. 10.

The AFP said another NPA leader who surrendered in March was Beong Dalumatan, alias Tukay, sub-commander of GF 72 based in Sultan Kudarat.

Dalumatan surrendered to the Columbio municipal police on March 3.

Meanwhile, 10 other NPA leaders including political guides, squad leaders and medics surrendered in Albay on Jan. 19.

The AFP attributed the spike in the NPA surrender to the sincere efforts of the government to help former rebels return to the fold of the law. –