Surprise reunion caps detainee’s first day of freedom | ABS-CBN
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Surprise reunion caps detainee’s first day of freedom
Surprise reunion caps detainee’s first day of freedom
Inday Espina-Varona
Published Aug 18, 2016 04:47 AM PHT
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The high school senior had just gotten off a tricycle at 5 a.m. and was preparing to board a jeepney when red letters on a banner caught her attention. "Welcome, Tirso Alcantara!"
The high school senior had just gotten off a tricycle at 5 a.m. and was preparing to board a jeepney when red letters on a banner caught her attention. "Welcome, Tirso Alcantara!"
Nica (surname withheld to protect her privacy) stared at the cloth held up by several persons.
She didn't know why people were milling outside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Nica (surname withheld to protect her privacy) stared at the cloth held up by several persons.
She didn't know why people were milling outside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
But she knew the name.
“Naiyak na ako.” (I started to cry.)
But she knew the name.
“Naiyak na ako.” (I started to cry.)
The student went up to the person holding a megaphone.
The student went up to the person holding a megaphone.
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Nica pointed out the banner."Lolo ko 'yan." (That's my grandfather.)
Nica pointed out the banner."Lolo ko 'yan." (That's my grandfather.)
"It took some time to convince them (supporters)," Nica told ABS-CBN News, smiling as she shook her head.
"It took some time to convince them (supporters)," Nica told ABS-CBN News, smiling as she shook her head.
None of the paralegal and support group members knew her. She didn't know any of them.
None of the paralegal and support group members knew her. She didn't know any of them.
Nica left paralegals confused.
Nica left paralegals confused.
"I didn't even know anything about the peace talks," she said, laughing.
Release process
"I didn't even know anything about the peace talks," she said, laughing.
Release process
Nica did not know that her grandfather, who carries the nom de guerre of “Shane Sangria” in the list of National Democratic Front (NDF) consultants covered by an agreement on safety and immunity guarantees, has the most number of cases – 46 – among some 500 political detainees.
Nica did not know that her grandfather, who carries the nom de guerre of “Shane Sangria” in the list of National Democratic Front (NDF) consultants covered by an agreement on safety and immunity guarantees, has the most number of cases – 46 – among some 500 political detainees.
So far, eight of 22 detained NDF consultants, and holders of immunity guarantees have walked free in the last two days: Alcantara, Alan Jazmines, Renante Gamara and Ernesto Lorenzo were released late afternoon from Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan.
So far, eight of 22 detained NDF consultants, and holders of immunity guarantees have walked free in the last two days: Alcantara, Alan Jazmines, Renante Gamara and Ernesto Lorenzo were released late afternoon from Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan.
Released Tuesday and early Wednesday were Kennedy Bangibang, Ruben Saluta, Jaime Soledad.
Released Tuesday and early Wednesday were Kennedy Bangibang, Ruben Saluta, Jaime Soledad.
Couple Alex and Winona Birondo were released on humanitarian grounds. Iloilo-based NDF consultant Concha Araneta Bocala was also released late afternoon.
Couple Alex and Winona Birondo were released on humanitarian grounds. Iloilo-based NDF consultant Concha Araneta Bocala was also released late afternoon.
The releases are aimed at jumptstarting the resumption of peace talks between the Philippine government and Asia’s longest-running communist insurgency.
The releases are aimed at jumptstarting the resumption of peace talks between the Philippine government and Asia’s longest-running communist insurgency.
Over a hundred rights lawyers, paralegals and support staff have spent the last two weeks getting judges across most regions to sign release orders for the consultants.
Over a hundred rights lawyers, paralegals and support staff have spent the last two weeks getting judges across most regions to sign release orders for the consultants.
Tall and still straight and sturdy, the former NDF spokesperson for Southern Tagalog during the 1986-87 initial peace talks, was arrested on Valentine’s Day in 2011.
Tall and still straight and sturdy, the former NDF spokesperson for Southern Tagalog during the 1986-87 initial peace talks, was arrested on Valentine’s Day in 2011.
For some time, he was detained in isolation by the Intelligence Security Group of the Philippine Army at the maximum security detention facility in Fort Bonifacio.
Long absence
For some time, he was detained in isolation by the Intelligence Security Group of the Philippine Army at the maximum security detention facility in Fort Bonifacio.
Long absence
Alcantara, 62, had not seen his granddaughter in 12 years.
Alcantara, 62, had not seen his granddaughter in 12 years.
Nica’s last sight of her grandfather, known as "Ka Bart" to activists, was on television.
Nica’s last sight of her grandfather, known as "Ka Bart" to activists, was on television.
He was in handcuffs. Police were announcing the capture of the man they claimed was second in command to the late Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal.
He was in handcuffs. Police were announcing the capture of the man they claimed was second in command to the late Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal.
The family, she said, did not attempt to contact him or his allies. It was too dangerous.
The family, she said, did not attempt to contact him or his allies. It was too dangerous.
Other than sad image on TV, Nica has happier memories: "vacations" in the guerrilla front of Southern Luzon.
Other than sad image on TV, Nica has happier memories: "vacations" in the guerrilla front of Southern Luzon.
She was four years old.
She was four years old.
"Part of me knew it was a rebel camp. But it was all fun to me," she said. “We were too young to really understand war.”
"Part of me knew it was a rebel camp. But it was all fun to me," she said. “We were too young to really understand war.”
Alcantara later told ABS-CBN News, he didn’t know part of the family had transferred to Manila.
Alcantara later told ABS-CBN News, he didn’t know part of the family had transferred to Manila.
“Nobody told me my granddaughter was just living in Taguig,” he said. “This is all an accident. She just heard my name.”
“Nobody told me my granddaughter was just living in Taguig,” he said. “This is all an accident. She just heard my name.”
Nica told ABS-CBN News that stays away from politics, partly for self-preservation.
Nica told ABS-CBN News that stays away from politics, partly for self-preservation.
She grew up with an aunt. Her mother, Alcantara's daughter, also an activist, was jailed for eight years in Palawan.
She grew up with an aunt. Her mother, Alcantara's daughter, also an activist, was jailed for eight years in Palawan.
Growing up the daughter and granddaughter of hunted rebels honed Nica to be cautious.
Growing up the daughter and granddaughter of hunted rebels honed Nica to be cautious.
“I don’t go near anything political,” she said.
“I don’t go near anything political,” she said.
But she could not resist coming back to the mass action at noon, right after school.
Her first rally: she stayed for 30 minutes while rights workers interviewed her and sent word to Alcantara.
But she could not resist coming back to the mass action at noon, right after school.
Her first rally: she stayed for 30 minutes while rights workers interviewed her and sent word to Alcantara.
“They asked me who my mother is,” Nica said.
“They asked me who my mother is,” Nica said.
“They told me the name of her mother,” Alcantara later said. “I told them, yes, that is my child.”
“They told me the name of her mother,” Alcantara later said. “I told them, yes, that is my child.”
Nica went home, talked with her aunt, and then went back to wait for her grandfather's release.
Nica went home, talked with her aunt, and then went back to wait for her grandfather's release.
When Alcantara and other freed detainees disembarked from their vehicle to greet supporters, Nica broke off from the crowd.
When Alcantara and other freed detainees disembarked from their vehicle to greet supporters, Nica broke off from the crowd.
“I just ran straight to him. I was running very fast. Someone tried to stop me. Of course, they didn’t know me.”
“I just ran straight to him. I was running very fast. Someone tried to stop me. Of course, they didn’t know me.”
“I just said, ‘lolo ko yan! Lolo ko yan!’”
“I just said, ‘lolo ko yan! Lolo ko yan!’”
Then she was in front of him.
Then she was in front of him.
“He looked startled. I told him, ‘Lolo, ako ito,’.”
(Lolo it’s me.)
“He looked startled. I told him, ‘Lolo, ako ito,’.”
(Lolo it’s me.)
She didn’t have to say her name.
She didn’t have to say her name.
“He hugged me. He held me tight for ten minutes. We didn’t move, we just hugged,” Nica told ABS-CBN News.
“He hugged me. He held me tight for ten minutes. We didn’t move, we just hugged,” Nica told ABS-CBN News.
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