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Leoncio Pitao

KA LOSOY: 30 plus years in the people’s army

in Mainstream
by Iliya Makalipay

One would right away notice the scar on his face. And upon seeing where my eyes had set, Ka Losoy immediately explained he got it from a firefight. He showed two more on his left arm. “The number of scars represent the number of times I was wounded,” he volunteered.

A platoon commander of the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Battalion (PBB) in the Southern Mindanao region, Ka Losoy has the qualities and experience that easily qualifies him to be company commander. He has been in the people’s army for more than 30 years, since 1987.

“But, he said he needs confidence, he is too shy to recognize his strengths,” Ka Adrian, a member of his platoon, butted in. Indeed, he was very shy, especially because this interview was among the few he granted.

Years before he joined the NPA, he had been a “contact” in the village where he lived, meaning comrades stayed in their house and gave him specific and limited task for the revolution. Among the comrades he first met was the slain commander of the PBB, Ka Parago or Leoncio Pitao.

With Ka Parago

When he joined the NPA, he was assigned to Ka Parago’s unit after a three-month stint with an armed propaganda unit or Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP). Since then, he has been with the PBB even after Ka Parago’s death in 2016.

His first experience of a tactical offensive was a pakana—a military operation where the NPA does not engage the enemy forces in a firefight or even use a single shot. The raid was successful, recalled Ka Losoy. They got the firearms they needed.

Remembering his experiences with Ka Parago, Losoy said they’ve been through highs and lows, successes and losses in their lives as red fighters.

He recalled how, during the height of the NPA’s military adventurism in the 80s, they would pursue the enemy through weekly tactical offensives, “puro putukan na lang.” Admitting that errors were committed at the time such as neglect of mass base building and agrarian revolution, “it came to a point when there was no more food to eat and bullets to fire.”

While recognizing the need to rectify the errors they committed, Ka Losoy maintained, “base sa experience, mas mahusay ang maniobra kapag malaki ang pwersa.”

Sacrifice

When Liberation staff asked NPA members before them which story they would want to feature, they all pointed to Ka Losoy, all for the same reason—that he has never been home for more than 30 years. Ka Losoy, unlike other red fighters, has never asked his collective for a “break” or a “vacation” to visit his family. When pressed for an explanation, Ka Losoy had no word for it; only a stare that hinted, “what’s wrong with that?”

He married when he was already in the NPA, but got separated eventually. He has a son who visits him when they set up camps or whenever his unit passes by the village where his son lives. Ka Losoy acknowledged that he gets bouts of loneliness and longing for his family, afterall kamingaw (Visayan word for loneliness) is the number one adversity among the red fighters. But, it is not a reason to leave the people’s army, Ka Losoy emphasized.

“We need to realize the need for and importance of the revolution. Given our situation, the poverty and oppression we experience, revolution is the only solution.”

He firmly believes discipline is key. “And always listen to your collective,” he added. He also takes Ka Parago’s words to heart: to persevere and remain determined to fight for the masses even when Parago is gone.

With and for the masses

For one who has been in the people’s army for 30 years—peaks and throughs—the victory of the people’s democratic revolution is a daily experience with the masses.

“‘Kung pangitaon ka sa masa, ug giila ka nila isip ilang sundalo, ilang hukbo—’mao man na ang pinakamalipayong parte sa kinabuhi sa usa ka NPA. Kadaugan man na.”

To Ka Losoy, victory is feeling the warm welcome of the masses when they go to the communities. It is being able to answer the questions of the masses and help them find solutions to their problems. It is hearing the masses cheer the people’s army after every tactical offensive against enemy forces. Victory is empowering the masses through the establishment of the local organs of political power.

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Tribute to Ka Roger and Ka Parago: UNFADING INSPIRATIONS TO REVOLUTIONARIES AND THE MASSES

in Cherish

In life and in death, they have remained an unfading inspiration to the entire revolutionary forces and the masses. Their selfless commitment to serve the exploited and oppressed, their unflinching sacrifices and their relentless perseverance and valor bespeak of the communist spirit. Their significant contributions to the revolutionary movement and the people’s democratic revolution for national liberation and social transformation cannot be ignored. For these they have been loved, revered and emulated.

Their mastery of the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist (MLM) principles was manifested in the excellence of their practice.

Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal was born to a peasant family and worked his way to school by peddling mosquito nets and as a landowner’s help. He became a member of Kabataang Makabayan and later an organizer of farm workers at Batangas Sugar Central in Balayan, Batangas. He was arrested and jailed in Camp Vicente Lim in Canlubang, Laguna during the Martial Law years but was able to escape prison. He then joined the armed struggle in the countryside, building, consolidating and expanding guerrilla bases in Southern Tagalog Region and Quezon-Bicol Zone. But the task he loved most was propaganda work where he truly excelled.

As Spokesperson of the CPP and NDFP, Ka Roger Rosal’s voice reverberated throughout the archipelago to awaken the masses with his sharp analysis of their situation and issues as he exposed the causes and refuted the lies peddled by the reactionaries. He used a language so simple but its truthfulness and closeness to the experience of the masses makes it understandable. His honest concern for the interest of the oppressed pierced their feelings and bolstered their courage to take the same revolutionary path that Ka Roger put to challenge. Meanwhile, his acerbic attacks on the puppet government, on imperialism, on the landlords and compradors not only intimidated them, not only enraged them, but also crippled them.

Leoncio “Commander Parago” Pitao joined the New People’s Army in 1978. He had applied the theory and practice of MLM successfully. He held on to the correct political line as he built organs of political power and mass organizations. He pursued land reform while advancing the struggle. He also developed close ties with the masses – the peasants, workers, and indigenous people, as well as built relations with allies. A brilliant strategist and tactician in guerrilla warfare, he led the First Pulang Bagani Company in the Southern Mindanao Region to many victorious offensives against the state military forces. Commander Parago was the most famous commander of his time. As he was recognized both nationally and internationally, the local reactionary forces dreaded and hated him.

Commander Parago was captured by enemy forces in 1999 but was released on recognizance in 2001, a confidence and goodwill measure for the resumption of the peace talks between the GRP and the NDFP. Upon release, he went back to the countryside to continue with the struggle.

Both Ka Roger and Commander Parago had lived with the masses for decades, zealously serving them, protecting them and helping them with their problems. They loved the masses so much and they in turn were dearly loved by them. The huge funeral marches during their funerals showed the outpouring of support and love for them of the masses.

Ka Roger suffered his first major heart attack in 1997 but he chose to stay in the countryside, climbing mountains, crossing rivers and seacoasts and facing dangers of enemy assaults. He died on June 22, 2011 at 64. His body were buried in a secret grave among the masses to hide it from the enemy. It was only in March 2016, upon the request of his family, that his urn of ashes was interred in his hometown in Ibaan, Batangas.

For some time also, Commander Parago had been sick with diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hepatitis and hypertension. His comrades advised him to take a leave for medical treatment and rest outside the area of his command but he opted to stay and live with the masses. On June 28, 2015, an enemy team raided Purok 9 of Barangay Panalum in the Paquibato District of Davao City where Parago was undergoing medical treatment by medic Vanessa Limpag, Ka Kyle. The enemy immediately riddled Commander Parago with bullets upon sight of him. Vanessa, who had raised her hand and made known that she was a medic was also gunned down. Leoncio Pitao passed away at 57.

In contrast to the lenient and humane treatment that Commander Parago rendered to captured enemies and prisoners of war, he was summarily killed in stark violation of International Humanitarian Law.

Ka Roger and Commander Parago might have fallen and gone but the legacy they left will live on. It will continue to inspire the education and training of so many revolutionaries, who will carry and pass on the torch until the victory of the Philippine revolution. It will prevail in the burning desire they sowed in the hearts of the masses to be freed from the bondage of exploitation and oppression. Every revolutionary will strive to emulate the exemplary lives they lived, the paragon of communist virtues in their being.

Contrary to the reactionary Armed Forces of the Philippines’ belief that the revolution would weaken with the death of Ka Roger and Commander Parago, it even grew stronger delivering fatal blows to the enemy. The First Pulang Bagani Company has since become a battalion. The successors to Ka Roger and Commander Parago have become more determined to advance the revolution to victory.

The grief over the loss of our beloved comrades and valiant heroes has turned into revolutionary courage as a lasting tribute to their treasured memory.

#UnsungHeroes
#Revolutionaries
#ServeThePeople

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Beloved Warrior of the Masses

in Mainstream 
by Pat Gambao

In life and in death, he remained an unfading inspiration to the entire revolutionary forces and the masses. His selfless commitment to serve the exploited and oppressed, his unflinching sacrifices and his relentless perseverance and valor bespeak of the communist spirit.  His significant contributions to the revolutionary movement and the people’s democratic revolution for national liberation and social transformation are etched in the hearts and minds of every fighter, every man and woman, every child in the areas where he left his imprint.

Commander Ka Parago had lived with the masses for decades, zealously serving them, protecting them and helping them with their problems. He loved the masses so much and he in turn was dearly loved by them.  For these, he has been revered.  Even children who barely had a glimpse of him when he was alive fondly call him tatay (father) to these days.

Leoncio “Commander Parago” Pitao joined the New People’s Army in 1978.  His mastery of the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist (MLM) principles was manifested in the excellence of his practice.  He held on to the correct political line as he built organs of political power and mass organizations. He led the pursuit for land reform while advancing the struggle.  He also developed close ties with the masses—the peasants, workers and indigenous people, as well as built relations with allies.  A brilliant strategist and tactician in guerrilla warfare, he led the First Pulang Bagani Company in the Southern Mindanao Region to many victorious offensives against the reactionary government’s military forces. Commander Parago was the most famous NPA commander of his time. The local reactionary forces dreaded and hated him.

Commander Parago was captured by enemy forces in 1999 but was released on recognizance in 2001, a confidence and goodwill measure for the resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).  Upon release, he went back to the countryside to continue with the struggle.

But the enemies never stopped to wreak vengeance on Ka Parago.  They abducted his daughter, Rebelyn, and ruthlessly killed her.  That great blow in his life almost broke him down.  For three days, the tough commander locked up himself in his shack, crying, not wanting to talk to anyone, refusing to take in any food, not so much from grief but from rage.  No one among his comrades dared to disturb him. So they turned to those they knew Ka Parago could not refuse—the masses in the community who became close to him. And it was them who convinced him to eat, calmed him down and brought him back to his senses; the masses he loved so much.  He had lived his life for them since his awakening to the wretchedness of their plight; for them he had pledged to die fighting.

For some time, Ka Parago had been sick with diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hepatitis and hypertension.  His comrades advised him to take a leave for medical treatment and rest outside the area of his command but he opted to stay and live with the masses.

On June 28, 2015, an enemy team raided Purok 9 of Barangay Panalum in the Paquibato District of Davao City where Parago was undergoing medical treatment. He was with NPA medic Vanessa Limpag, Ka Kyle.  The enemy immediately riddled Commander Parago with bullets upon sight of him.  Vanessa, who had raised her hand and made known she was a medic was also gunned down.  Ka Leoncio Pitao passed away at 57.

In contrast to the lenient and humane treatment that Commander Parago and his unit rendered to captured enemies and prisoners of war, he was summarily killed in stark violation of International Humanitarian Law (or the laws of war).

For some time, his men who had always hung on to his shoulders were disheartened and, like the enemy, entertained the thought that the revolution in that part of Mindanao would crumble.  But then, the legacy he had left behind—the education and training of so many revolutionaries who will carry and pass on the torch till victory of the Philippine revolution, the burning desire he sowed in the hearts of the masses to be freed from the bondage of exploitation and oppression, the life he lived, the communist virtues in his being—fired the revolution to even greater heights, delivering fatal blows to the enemies.

It was harvest time for the seeds that Commander Parago had sowed. The First Pulang Bagani Company has since become a full battalion.  His successors have become more determined to advance the revolution to victory. The grief for the loss of the beloved comrade and valiant hero has turned to revolutionary courage as a lasting tribute to his cherished memory.

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