By JUDE BAGGO
www.nordis.net

I am deeply amazed of how the people of Davao and its nearby places showed their last respect to the late Leoncio Pitao aka Kumander Parago. In their thousands, people from all walks of life trooped to the Almendras Gym in Davao to witness the Luksang Parangal of their beloved Kumander Parago without any fear or apprehension. He must have been well loved and respected by his people as a person and a revolutionary. I cannot think of other explanations on why children, students, elderly, women, indigenous peoples, church people and politicians paid their respect to a fallen New People’s Army (NPA) commander in such a high profile activity and in a gym no less.

Personally, I am told that NPAs are like bandits, lazy, have long hair, steal from the people and brainwashed jerks. But seeing the response of the people of Davao to their fallen Kumander Parago, he must have done and played an important role in shaping the communities he served. Like anybody else, if Kumander Parago has done nothing and even become an instrument to bring chaos and insecurity in communities, maybe only his family would attend the wake. But then again, when buses are loaded and all roads to Davao City are occupied with people eager to see their martyr, it is a different story. It is a story of love and courage of people who became part of the life of Kumander Parago.

In the news also were allegations of violations on the rules of war when he was killed. According to these journals, Kumander Parago was sick and his medic was unarmed when they were killed. Under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), this is a violation. The use of excessive force against their enemy is strictly prohibited. Under the rules of war, Parago and his medic should have been captured and treated as Prisoners of War. Violations under IHL are also crimes against humanity. Even in war, there are rules to be followed. Parties to the IHL should strictly adhere to the conventions and protocols of war. This is to lessen human suffering.

For the people of Davao, Parago is their tatay, comrade and a guiding red star. It appears that everybody knows him well in Davao that even Mayor Duterte and other personalities were among those who paid their respects to Parago. Even artists in Davao paid their respect to the man by painting a big mural of Parago in the center of the City. Passersby are stopping to read and take pictures with the mural as a background. In the mural were his famous words “this is not a war between the Military and the NPA but the struggle of masses for genuine change and democracy.”

As a Christian and a peace loving person, I could only pray for his soul and may he rest in peace. # nordis.net