Revolutionary forces of Central Luzon gave their highest salute to Nephtali Santos (Ka Atong) and Ronnel Rhay Phoben D. Madrigal (Ka Sandee), who were martyred last July 16 in Barangay San Juan De Mata, Tarlac City. West Central Luzon’s revolutionary publication, Bigwas, released a tribute for the two comrades to honor their sacrifices and contributions to the revolution.

The two were killed in an armed raid by combined forces of the 3rd Mechanized Battalion and Philippine National Police (PNP)-Tarlac City.

Santos and Madrigal were in the area to investigate the agrarian grievances of the peasant masses. They were tasked by the New People’s Army (NPA) unit to reorganize peasant organizations to collectively face the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis.

Santos has served the masses of Central Luzon for three decades since being a Red fighter in 1991. At the time of his death, he was a Red commander and political instructor of the NPA unit. He was also part of Central Luzon’s Regional Party Committee.

Santos, a poet and artist, was also known by comrades by the name Macario Salakay. His poems were loved by the masses which brings them smiles on their faces, wrote Bigwas. Among his poems were ‘Ang mga Tula sa Kanayunan’, ‘Ako ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan’ and ‘Hayaan mo akong maging isang punong mangga.’

His companion, Madrigal, was 29 years old. Madrigal joined the NPA in January 2019 and was first deployed in the unit covering the Zambales mountain range. Bigwas noted his talent in singing, creative dancing, recording and video-editing. According to Bigwas, he will be remembered by comrades as a genuine cultural revolutionary.