Rebel, who led Tuburan attack surrenders

What drove him to the mountains to join the rebel movement seven years ago was the same reason that drove a rebel to return to the fold of the law - hardship.

A former front 2 vice-platoon commander of the CCP/NPA operating in the mid-north of Cebu Province (Danao City, Tuburan, Asturias and Carmen) voluntarily turned himself back to the fold of the law together with his live-in partner and two children.

He also admitted to leading the attack against an Army detachment in Tuburan resulting to the death of three soldiers late last year.

Luciano Puro alias "Mendo" with his live-in partner Roselyn Nura and the children were accompanied by personnel of the 78th Infantry Battalion headed by Lt. Dugho to the office of Catmon Mayor Estrella Aribal yesterday morning.

Puro, who had been a member of the CCP/NPA for seven years said, he was convinced by the teachings of the communists that the poor, especially the farmers, should not be deprived of their land which are controlled only by a few landed individuals.

"Kinsa may di gusto nga moasenso" Puro said.

But in his seven years in the movement Puro realized another kind of hardships and that is being always away from his wife and children.

"Pait gyod ang kinabuhi sa bukid, sigi lang galakaw sa bukid, mabasa sa uwan," he added.

Puro admitted killing Sgt. Rolando Luna on October 15, 2005 after raiding the 78th IB detachment in Sumon, Tuburan, Cebu.

Also killed were PFC Joseph Bingil and Cpl Bobby Lecono.

Puro's group attacked Luna's team while they were preparing for dinner.

Puro said he couldn't say no and had to obey the orders of his superiors. "Ako'y gitahasan nila, obligado di ko kabalibad isip naa ra ko sa ubos, otomatik mi mosunod," he said.

The rebel said that at first he was reluctant to surrender, because he feared for his life. He said that comrades warned him that he will just be killed by the military if he surrenders. If not, he will be accepted at first and few years after he still he would be assassinated and the rebel group would be blamed for killing him.

But after spending one night with the army, he said, they were treated so warmly. Puro said, the soldiers even played with his kids.

As vice-platoon commander, one of Puro's tasks was to convince farmers not to be afraid of the CPP/NPA. He pointed out that they never asked for revolutionary taxes from the poor farmers though they would ask them to provide food for their daily subsistence while on foot in the mountains aside from trying to lure the farmers to join them.

He admitted they are collecting revolutionary taxes from the big businessmen, whom they consider as their enemy.

The couple was warmly welcomed by Mayor Aribal with Sangguniang Bayan member Victoriano Duran, Jr., who is the chairman of the peace and order committee.

Duran facilitated Puro's surrender after he was asked by a brother of Luciano to help.

The municipality of Catmon assisted the family for their transportation in coming back to Cebu.

Puro fled to Bukidnon in December 2005, to keep his distance from the group and to stay away from the military, who have been tracking him for Luna's death.

He said, he had the group's permission to leave provided he would not do harm to the organization like by joining the CAFGU and fighting with them.

Mayor Aribal assured Puro and his live-in partner of help with their livelihood as they start their new life. The municipality will send the children to school in the day care center while they send the couple to a skills training program for them to start a livelihood.

Temporarily, the rebel returnee's family will stay at the ABC building while Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia is still in Japan.

Mayor Aribal said, the governor has plans already for the family.

They'll be presented to the governor when she comes back from Japan today.

Roselyn met Luciano while she was still 17 years old. She said, she had no inclination to join the rebel movement and just loved to watch their cultural presentation in their place in Danao City when she met Luciano.

Their relationship bloomed in October 2000 amidst protestation from the leadership.

Roselyn said, the movement has policies when to enter into a relationship. They were temporarily separated until 2002 that they were wed in their revolutionary rites.

Their children are a four-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl. The couple lamented that their children don't bear their names for security purposes.

Puro said, his colleagues told him that their children will be kidnapped by the soldiers as bait for their surrender, so they have to hide their identity.

"Di' na pud ko ka-agwanta nga di ko kakita sa akong mga anak, bisan kon masakit sila. Maglibog na sab sila kon asa gyod magpuyo kay sigi man mi ug balhin," he said.

Roselyn had also her share in the movement when she was made to carry firearms like a Carbine, a M-16, and a .45 caliber pistol. She however said that she has never fired at anyone.

She was almost killed in May 2001, a day after the elections, when they encountered some police personnel in a barangay in Tabuelan.

Roselyn said, her companion Rodrigo Jamil was killed while she managed to escape the rain of bullets.

That incident made her very nervous and she promised not to go out with the group in any of their activities.

Mayor Aribal also offered to officiate the civil wedding of the couple, who plan to get Col. Jesse Alvarez, the commanding officer of the 78th IB, as their wedding sponsor.