Conrado Balweg punished
On December 31, 1999, Conrado Balweg was punished in Barangay Buanao, Malibcong, Abra by a unit of the New People's Army (NPA) Chadli Molintas Command in the Cordillera.
Conrado Balweg was guilty of a long list of crimes against the people and the revolutionary movement as the top leader of the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA), a notorious counterrevolutionary paramilitary force in the region.
Conrado Balweg was an active instrument in the service of the USEstrada regime's fascist schemes when punished by the NPA. In fact, he had gone to Malibcong to implement a vicious plan to dispossess the townsfolk of their ancestral lands and facilitate the entry of the foreign Newcrest Mining Corporation.
In a statement, the Chadli Molintas Command bared that as early as September 1999, the CPLA already had plans to demolish whatever political structures and economic programs the revolutionary movement had set up in northern Abra. For this, Balweg received P5 million from the Countryside Development Fund of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, a former general. Forty-four percent (44%) or P2.2 million of this amount was malversed and channeled to unfinished "socio-economic projects" while the balance of P2.8 million was allotted for "counter-insurgency". Malibcong was targeted as the pilot area for Biazon's "Zone of Peace and Development" project.
Accordingly, Balweg had planned to go to every village to call mass meetings against the NPA. He wanted to abolish all national-democratic organizations set up by the people of Malibcong to defend their land, lives and resources and advance the interests of impoverished classes and sectors. Balweg promised to give P8,000 to every leader and member who would repudiate his or her organization. Anyone who objected was branded a communist and harassed. | Conrado Balweg was guilty of a long list of crimes against the people and the revolutionary movement as the top leader of the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA), a notorious counterrevolutionary paramilitary force in the region. |
Balweg planned to put up in their stead the Bodong Development Cooperative, Inc. which would enter into a joint venture with Newcrest Mining Corporation.
This was merely the latest of Balweg's crimes. As early as 1986-87, appropriate organs of the Communist Party of the Philippines had already deliberated on his cases. Because of the number and gravity of his crimes that included the incurrence of many blood debts, the Party had decided that it was just to impose the death penalty. Over the years, the matter was weighed several more times and the decision affirmed repeatedly as Balweg committed more transgressions (refer to table).
On December 31, the Cordillera peoples' cries for justice against Balweg's many crimes was heeded.
Partial list of Conrado Balweg's crimes:
Murder of Fr. Bruno Ortega, SVD in December 1987 as he was sleeping at the CPLA headquarters at Cordillera House, Baguio City. Days before he died, Ortega had planned to return to the revolutionary movement after realizing the grave error of joining Balweg's group.
Abduction and murder on October 6, 1997 of Daniel Ngaya-an, head of the Cordillera Bodong Association and member of the Executive Committee of the Cordillera People's Alliance (CPA). Balweg openly boasted that they had killed Ngaya-an.
Abduction, torture and murder of Romy Gardo, a CPA organizer, on December 28, 1987.
Murder by firing squad of Jonathan Bisnan and Tito Babasa, both farmers from Tubo, Abra, in 1987.
Murder of Benito Dang-aw of Tubtuba, Tubo, Abra in 1987.
Murder of two elders of Salegseg, Balbalan, Kalinga and two children from Balbalan in 1987.
Torture and murder of Pagpag Afarag in 1988.
Massacre of 16 civilians and destruction of masses' property in Paco Valley, Apayao in March 1987.
Liquidation of two NPA Red fighters who were hors d'combat and recuperating from their wounds in Butot, Abra in February 1988. CPLA troops also raped two female medics who were attending to the patients.
Murder of Ayangwa Claver, son of Congressman William Claver, in Pinukpuk, Kalinga on January 21, 1990. With the CPLA forces who killed him were troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and goons of then Pinukpuk mayor Dominador Belac.
Destruction of people's livelihood projects in 1987 such as a cooperative in Upper Tinglayan, Kalinga and a water-powered rice pounder in Ngibat, Tinglayan, Kalinga.
Harassment of residents of Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet who opposed illegal logging in their ancestral lands by the CPLA.
Illegal entry and searching of houses and confiscation of property of families in Abra suspected of sympathizing with the NPA.
Use of arms to intimidate certain tribes into changing their village boundaries to favor CPLA officials and elements, as what occurred with the boundaries of the Saclit and Butbut tribes.
Landgrabbing in Tabuk, Kalinga and Baguio City.
Harassment of delegates to Cordillera Day in Tubo, Abra in 1998.
Hurling death threats against leaders of progressive organizations.
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