A Matter of Revenge

One of Asia's enduring insurgency problems is the feud between the guerrillas of the Hukbong Mapagpalayang Bayan* and the Philippine government. For more than two decades, the Huks have been active in what is commonly called "Huklandia," an area in Central Luzon where social and economic ills create a fertile breeding ground for discontent. At the height of the insurgency in 1950-51, the Huks had an estimated 20,000 well-organized men under arms. A concerted government drive led by the late Ramon Magsaysay, then Defense Secretary, whittled that number down drastically, but did not succeed in stamping out the insurgents. To thousands of peasants, the Huks, an odd farrago of idealistic reformers, nationalists, Communists and mere bandits, are still Robin Hoods who mete out swift and bloody justice to cattle thieves and heavy-handed officials. To the government, they are dangerously politicized criminals who must be eradicated.

Thus Manila had reason for satisfaction last month when government forces killed 21 Huks in two bloody shoot-outs in Luzon. The paramilitary Philippine Constabulary had eliminated four guerrilla commanders, including the third-ranking man in the Huk hierarchy, Efren Lopez, who went by the nom de guerre of Commander Freddie. The action apparently resulted in part from factional division and rivalry among the insurgents. Government forces had trapped Freddie and his men on a tip-off --and that tip-off had evidently come from Commander Sumulong, who ranks directly below Huk Supremo Pedro Taruc. Sumulong had apparently felt challenged by Freddie. Last week, far from shattered, and united again at least in revenge, the Huks struck back.

Their cadres had earlier spread word that 21 government troopers would die --one for each of the guerrillas slain in the January encounters. Brigadier General Vicente Raval, who commands the Constabulary, put his forces on alert. But within hours, a band of about 20 Huks ambushed a twelve-man government detail, killing two and wounding nine. Three days later, another group shot up an army Jeep. A lieutenant and two other soldiers died in the fusillade; the lieutenant's four-year-old son was wounded, and only one passenger escaped unharmed.

General Raval dismissed the ambushes as Huk attempts to "salvage what is left of their prestige." But a junior officer was less optimistic. "Nobody in uniform is safe in Central Luzon until the Huks get their pound of flesh," he said. "And they'll get it, sooner or later." They probably will--considering that the government has promised much and done little. Huk strength is still estimated at around 300 armed men, which does not sound impressive--but they are supported by thousands of sympathetic or frightened peasants.

* Tagalog for People's Liberation Army.

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