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Punk cheats death in tormentors’ hand

Panagbenga spectators tagged as NPAs in Buguias, Benguet

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 16) — All that Rundren Berloize Lao, 24, from Davao City and his group of 11 backpackers were looking for was adventure, and they decided to hitch-hike towards idyllic mountain resort town of Sagada, in Mountain Province. But they weren’t that lucky.  In fact, Rundren cheated death to tell his story of grimacing pain in the hands of his tormentors.

Rundren and his group, all from a punks gig Punks not Dead in Tarlac decided on February 11 to head for Baguio to revel in the annual Baguio Flower Festival this month. 

“Dahil sabi nila maganda daw ang Panagbenga,” Rundren said.

When in Baguio on the early morning of February 14, Rundren’s group hitch-hiked and boarded a dump truck towards the Baguio-Bontoc Road (Halsema Highway) at around 6 AM. The punks included a young girl, Frencess Ann, who is only 15 years old.

At around noontime, Rundren said, they were held by police looking for New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at a checkpoint in Barangay Bangao, Buguias town, Benguet. 

“Tinutukan agad kami ng mga baril na mahahaba,” his voice still trembling from the experience.  “We were kicked and manhandled, he claimed as he showed still obvious signs of “torture” on his back, legs and arms,” he said showing signs of a horrible experience.

Rundren and his group were tied with a rope, some handcuffed, and were brought to the 1604th Police Mobile Group station in Camp Molintas, Abatan, also in Buguias, Benguet.  There they suffered in the hands of their police captors, he said.

“We were blindfolded and were asked if we are NPAs. They asked me who Simon Naogsan is,” he still trembled. 

Naogsan is a former government engineer who joined the NPA in the 90’s and is now the spokesperson of the Cordillera Peoples Democratic Front (CPDF).  He is being suspected as one of those who led the February 10 NPA raid in barangay Cabiten, Mankayan town, also in Benguet where three government forces were killed and 23 high-powered firearms were carted away by the rebels.

Rundren, sporting dread-locks is an adventurous former 4th year engineering student of the University of Mindanao. He said that it was the only time he heard the name “Naogsan” and the Cabiten barangay where a CAFGU detachment was raided. Rundren said he is not a student activist.  He is “a punkista”, he claimed.

Their captors reportedly took mug shots of them.

That night, February 14, some militiamen reportedly arrived at the 1604th headquarters and identified them as those who took part in the NPA raid. 

“Lima sa amin ang naturo at pinagsusuntok sa iba’t-ibang parte ng katawan,” (They accused five of us and were punched in different parts of the body) Rundren narrated. 

The 24-year old also claimed that his captors electrocuted a member of the group inside a room and all they could hear was his cries in pain. 

“Isinusupot pa ang mga ulo namin. (They made us wear plastic bags in our heads) he said.  “Pinipilit nilang paaminin na NPA kami.” (They forced us to admit that we are NPAs) Rundren revealed. He admitted that some of them, including him, were forced to admit they are activists just to stop the “torture”.

The Great Escape

On the night of February 15, policemen at the police headquarters, Rundren claimed, had a drinking spree. During the drinking, a chinky-eyed burly built policeman whom he surmised as a police official entered the room where he was and hit him with a huge wood on the legs several times.  

Then, probably because of the booze, he said, he jumped through the open window and dived to the creek below, unnoticed by the drunken peace-keeping officers.   “Nagpagulong-gulong ako at tumama pa ako sa isang malaking bato pababa,” (I somersaulted until I reached the creek where I hit a rock on my way down) he claimed.

While escaping, Rundren said, he was shot at by automatic gunfire from the police officers.  Luckily, he was not hit but he suffered bruises, contusions and he broke his leg.

He said he used his skill of mountain adventure and followed the creek towards the houses along the village.  No villager, he said, would open up for him for a drop of water and warm clothes.  “Narinig siguro nila iyung mga putok,” (They probably heard the volley of shots) he surmised.  He slept below a house and the next morning he was given water and clothes.

Rundren had to cut his dreadlocks if only to evade detection.  “Humiram ako ng panggupit,”(I borrowed scissors) he added.

Truly a survivor, Rundren reached the highway and hitched-hiked again with at least three vehicles towards Baguio.  “I have to beg the drivers,” he said because the police seized all of his belongings.  The last vehicle, a passenger bus, brought him to Baguio free.

Rundren went to Burnham Park hoping he could find help but failed. He finally reached the office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) -Cordillera , which turned him over to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Cordillera, where he was examined by a medico-legal officer and his sworn statement taken.

Hail The Police?

However, PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said here on Friday morning the police who arrested Rundren and his group should be commended.  Standing by the Benguet policemen who held the group, the police chief said, it will be their word against the police.

Lomibao added that the 11, mostly teenagers, were identified by the CAFGUs as those who took part in the raid.    

They are Aldoz Christian Munoza, 18, single, of Santolan, Pasig City; Darwin Alazar y Padilla, 21, single, native of Tipuso, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan; Arvie Nunez alias “Ka Palos”, 21, single, native of Silang, Mayaw, Lucena City, alleged political officer; Ray Lester Mendoza y Esquerra alias “Ka Petra”, 16, from San Francisco, Makati City, alleged intelligence & investigation officer; Neil Russel Balajadia, 25, single, from Santolan, Pasig City, alleged radio operator; Jethro Villegas, 21, single, of Malagos, Calinan, Davao City; Anderson Alonzo, 18, single, also of Malagos, Calinan, Davao City; Ronron Pandino, 20, single, from San Quintin, Laguna; Frencess Ann Bernal, 15, single, of Camupang, Marikina City; and Jefferson Dela Rosa y Dela Cruz, 20, single, of Santolan, Pasig City.

Benguet police director Villamor Bumanglag claimed Rundren is the leader of the NPA unit they alleged is codenamed “Pasiklab” who is actively operating within Capaz and Bamban towns in Tarlac.

Police alleged that they were brought to northern Benguet for a test mission. After the Cabiten detachment raid, Bumanglag said, “the group regrouped at Burnham Park in Baguio City on February 11 to plan for their next mission in Mountain Province.”  Bumanglag affirmed that the arrest of the 10 foiled such a plan.

Rundren was arrested by policemen on Friday afternoon to answer a crime he and his backpacker friends said they did not commit. They are now at the Benguet Provincial Jail facing a case of robbery with homicide at the Regional Trial Court branch 64  in Buguias, Benguet. # Ace Alegre for NORDIS

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