The Prisoner

Short Story

June 02, 2012

The Prisoner

This is a story that he will tell his children and grand-children.

For Andy, he never knew that he will come face to face with people in high positions when he joined the revolution and have a chance to have a heart to heart talk with them during the perilous times during martial law.

It was its 13^th year in the movement when he was captured by the enemy. He joined the People’s Army even before martial law was declared and saw how it was built from the scratch.

He was a student activist then when he joined the rebel movement (the enemy called them that). He went straight to Isabela and his first assignment was to be a political officer. A job he enjoyed doing for as long as he 

remembered.

He was captured because of one small mistake. It was those small mistakes that have the greater repercussions in the movement. And that mistake is that he trusted his wife.

His wife has ideological problems for which he blames himself. He did not love her but because they both committed a breach of discipline, he married her for the sake of the movement. This despite the protestations of his friends and comrades.

“Why marry when there is no love. Just accept the disciplinary action and it will go away. Marry her just for the sake of the movement, I will tell you, you will regret it.” His best friend and comrade in the movement told him.

It turned out that his wife betrayed her for a handsome and large amount of money to the military. And that is why he cannot forgive her. He was set-up.

 “Don’t ever talk to me or visit me again.” He told her. “I don’t want to talk to you ever again.” He told her.

One afternoon, while still in jail at Camp Crame, an army officer, a mestizo from the south and a close aide of the defense minister called on him. “Dress up some people wanted to talk to you.”

They travelled out of Manila and they met in a hill, overlooking the grand lake outside of Manila. He savored the sights and the moment of freedom under guard.

To his surprise, he was introduced to the Defense Minister and a political officer of the US Embassy. The minister was trim and proper. But his thick Ibanag accent was very prominent. The both speak and converse in Ilocano even in front of the embassy official.

They questioned him about the movement. How he got involved and his understanding of revolutionary principles. It was quite an interrogation. The difference is he is not obliged to answer anything. There was no pressure unlike the other interrogation that he was subjected to torture. And the people he talked to were polite, courteous and respectful.

They talked about the works of Jose Ma.Sison mostly the “Specific Characteristics of the People’s War in the Philippines.”

The minister remarked; “You will lose in the long run because even if you say that the advantage of people’s war is the characteristics of the Philippines as an archipelago, there will come a time that will be to your disadvantage. Especially if you are near the end game” He looked at the lawyer. Former customs commissioner and justice secretary with a keen eye. He was emotionless. Very poker faced.

“He really studied the matter. He knows his subject.” He said to himself.

After the long discussions, after her rejected all the overtures for him to join the other side, it was time to go back to his cell. But to his surprise, he was taken to have a sumptuous dinner at Barrio Fiesta in EDSA.

Now it’s the time for the colonel to talk to him.

“Can you guarantee my safety If I let you go back to your comrades and I go with you? “The colonel asked him.

“Why” he asked.

" You can stay with them but as long as you let me go and I talked with them, it’s your call. Besides they don’t know me. Just introduced me as a low ranking officer.” His captor stressed while they were eating alone.

“What is your guarantee that I will let you out alive.” He joked.

“That will mean the death of all the people you know and love.” The officer answered sternly.” My close friends officer will see to it that I don’t come back alive, then every will suffer the consequences of your betrayal”

“Wow”, he smiled and proceed eating and attacking the food he missed eating while in detention. He was in jail for more than two years.

“And how sure are you that they will let you go. I am just a simple warrior of the people.” He asked.

“Aw, don’t give me that crap. We know and you know, and I know that you are a member of the Politburo and the Central Committee. You are the Regional head and the place where we will go is the place where you best friend is the head of the area. We know he cannot say no to you. You are best of friend.” 

The officer smiled. That was the first time he saw the colonel smiled naturally.

“Besides, we know that he just married. Maybe you do not know who he married but that is not interesting.”

“What will you talk about?”  He tried to fathom what the real intent of the officer is. He was deep in it, might as well try to find options for escape.

“You know we have formed an officer’s movement against Marcos. We have been training against his men especially “Kulot” (that’s how they refer to General Fabian Ver who is bald). We are exploring areas of cooperation. They might be interested.I know and we know your friend follow the news."

"We know that he ordered a brand new transistor radio, A Sony brand. He really follows the news." the colonel is now drinking his beer.

“Well you know my friend. He is hard to talk with.”

“That is why we will try to bring you along. You can bring some sense to his thick mind. And we know he cannot refuse you.” The colonel smiled again.

He remembered his friend. He is a hard-liner. Even in prison he heard about his exploits. His friend and comrade was so ruthless against their enemies. How he ordered the burning of town halls and logging companies in the provinces. Well, maybe his marriage will mellow him up. 

Now it’s his time to smile after savoring the rich thickness of the grounded mane( peanuts) in his kare-kare. The officer looked at him inquisitively.

“ I will be waiting for your call” he said to the officer. “I agree he said.”

The officer’s call did not come until he was freed due to the ESDA People’s uprising. He still chuckled at that moment when he said yes to the officer’s offer.

Until today he still wonder what will my friend say. He knows, and the officers know that his friend was a wild card. Maybe the officer had a change of heart.  They can expect the unexpected from him.

They don’t know what tomorrow may bring.

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