Tuesday, March 20, 2018

CPP/NDF-Bicol Region: Alfredo ‘Ka Bendoy’ Merilos

NDF-Bicol Region propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Mar 20): Alfredo ‘Ka Bendoy’ Merilos

Maria Roja Banua, Spokesperson
NDFP Bicol Region (Region V)

20 March 2018

Today marks a day of mourning for thousands of Filipinos as the remains of Alfredo Dino Merilos are laid to rest. His name might be buried in obscurity, but countless masses and comrades would fondly recall Ka Bendoy or Ka Berdin as one of the bastions of pursuing the people’s war across Bicol and the country.

Ka Bendoy dedicated decades of his life to pursuing a revolutionary cause. Born and raised in a society that was steeped in political and economic unrest during the Martial Law years, it was not a surprise that he got curious about activism even during his high school years. Those were the times when even priests refused to don their pacifist garb and used their sermons as talons against the state. Ka Bendoy, might have looked unassuming but his sharp mind picked up a lot of things fast.

It was no wonder that he got active fighting for his student rights in his second year as a sophomore of Mechanical Engineering at Bicol University. What started as a simple demand for a better laboratory fueled a lifelong crusade to push for every class’ democratic rights and to take part in building a society that is free from exploitation and oppression. Even after he graduated, passed his board exams and even with lucrative job opportunities within his grasp, he left climate controlled offices to work as a full time organizer in schools and communities in the region’s urban centers. After a few years, on 1985, he chose to live, toil and build amongst the masses of the countryside as a red fighter.

Ingrained with petty bourgeois ideals, reforming to be a better revolutionary was a two-front challenge. Not only was their small unit faced with constant enemy combat attacks but he also faced the grueling challenge of correcting one’s rooted practices. But through constant party guidance, self-criticism and collective criticism he was able to develop into a party cadre capable of a strong political and military leadership. Equipped with this potential early on, he became part of the Regional Instruction Bureau (RIB), the region’s staff arm for ensuring political development amongst fighters and commanders from 1986 to 1990. He used humorous cartoons to impart sharp but comprehensible party insights. Thus, Batoy, Silyab’s (regional party publication) forever youthful character was born. Batoy’s playful humor reflects Ka Bendoy’s penchant for orchestrating practical jokes which of course he denies with a mischievous chuckle.

From 1991-1997 he took on the crucial task of leading various armed propaganda units (SYP) in Sorsogon and Camarines Sur as their political guide. His constant effort to push collective revolutionary fervor quickly made him Front Secretary and eventually a regular Regional Party Committee member in 1997 and 1998 respectively. From 2005-2012, he took up the post of Provincial Party Committee head of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte and was elected as a regular member of the Regional Party Executive Committee in 2007. In 2015 he was elected as a member of the Secretariat of Regional Party Executive Committe, and by 2016, he was a delegate at the 2nd Party National Congress where he was elected as a regular member of the Party Central Committee.

His extensive experience in party building, troop leadership and immersing one’s self to the basic masses needs and aspirations made him a veritable fountain of practical guides for the next generation of party cadres. Although he tried to blend in the shadows most times, his towering height and his array of funny stories and antics draws people around him. But he does play tough when the situation asks for it especially when it comes to party policies.

A few days before he was murdered and felled down by the state death demons, he suffered another attack of mild stroke. He was at a constant war with his diabetes, hypertension and failing heart. At 56, his body was deteriorating fast but he refused time and time again to have a heart bypass operation knowing that this will hinder his mobility and that would separate him from serving in the countryside. He refused to take much needed rest and continued with his daily ritual of tinkering with what needs to be fixed—literally and figuratively. If it’s not a crooked table leg, it’s the makeshift roof, or if not, bags that need repacking or if barred from that, a comrade’s life troubles. But he did have to face his health concerns to serve the people longer. Good byes were short with comrades confident that he would be back in a few days.

But he did not come back. He would if he could have.

Today, his family and kin say goodbye to a father, a brother, a husband, a relative and a confidante. Today the country buries one of its greatest son, comrade, teacher, commander and most of all servant of the people. Murdering revolutionaries is a dastardly act and proves no victory. Justice will prevail in the hands of the people’s court and judgement will be meted out through the course of history.

Ka Bendoy is just one of the fire bearers tasked to keep the revolutionary spark going and he has not failed in developing more fire bearers from the ranks of the masses and red fighters. His sacrifice for the Filipino people will contribute to the fire that will raze the rotten state to the ground.

Let us march towards Victory!
Take the people’s war to new heights!

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