Conrado Balweg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Conrado Balweg
BornDecember 29, 1942[1]
DiedDecember 31, 1999(1999-12-31) (aged 57) [1]
Malibcong, Abra, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Spouse(s)Corazon Cortel
Children5
Ecclesiastical career
ReligionRoman Catholicism
OrdainedNovember 27, 1970
Pope Paul VI
Congregations served
Society of the Divine Word
Military career
Nickname(s)Ka Ambo
AllegianceNew People's Army
(1979-1986)
Cordillera People’s Liberation Army
(1986-1999)
UnitLumbaya Company (NPA)

Conrado Balweg was a former Filipino Catholic priest and rebel who was the founder of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army, a militant group which advocated autonomy for the Cordillera region in the Philippines. He was also known by the nom-de-guerre Ka Ambo.[2]

Career[]

Balweg, a member of the Tingguian people, was ordained a priest of the Society of the Divine Word congregation by Pope Paul VI in 1970 during the latter's pastoral visit to Manila. He joined the New People's Army in 1979 when he was inspired to fight for the Cordillera people after tribal leader Macli-ing Dulag was killed that same year. Dulag was opposed to a plan of the government to build a hydroelectric dam in the Cordilleras. In the early 1980s, the Armed Forces of the Philippines had tagged Balweg as its most-wanted man with a bounty of ₱200,000.[3] As an NPA member, he was part of the Lumbaya Company.[2]

Balweg formed the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) in 1986 with fellow priest, Bruno Ortega.[3] Under his leadership, the CPLA made a "sipat" or ceasefire with the Philippine government at the Mt. Data Hotel, in Bauko, Mountain Province on September 13, 1986. The agreement between the two sides was called the 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord.[4][5]

Death[]

Members of the Chadli Molintas Cordillera Region Command of the New People's Army killed Balweg at his residence in Malibcong, Abra in the early morning of December 31, 1999. The unit was led by his brother Juvencio, who denied firing the shots that fatally wounded Balweg. The New People's Army issued a statement that they killed Balweg for alleged "crimes against the Cordilleran people and the Revolutionary Movement".[3]

Another NPA member, Procorpio Tauro also known as "Pyro" and "Ka Lito", was found by the Philippine police to be directly responsible for killing Balweg. Tauro, along with Balweg's brother and other NPA members were present when the killing occurred.[6]

Personal life[]

Balweg was married to Corazon Cortel. Upon Balweg's death in 1999, Cortel became the Chief of Staff of the CPLA. Cortel died at Camp Upi in Gamu, Isabela on March 10, 2008 leaving behind five children.[7]

Jordan, one of Balweg's children, was a CPLA member who was integrated into the Philippine Army in 2012.[8]

In popular culture[]

Balweg's turn from a priest to a communist rebel was depicted in the 1987 film Balweg, directed by Anthony "Butch" Perez and starring Phillip Salvador as Balweg and Rio Locsin as his wife Azon.

References[]

  1. ^ a b Alcantara, Nathan (Jan. 2, 2000). "'Balweg knew he was going to die''" Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. 12.(Link) Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Bahatan, Fernando Jr. (24 April 2009). "Cordillera Autonomy: Looking Around and Farther Back". National Economic and Development Authority - Cordillera Administrative Region. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Priest Turned Rebel killed by Communist Guerrillas Led by Brother". UCA News. 6 January 2000. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  4. ^ Virgilio M Gaje (2012-02-01). "[PIA News] CPLA commemorates Mount Data peace accord". Archives.pia.gov.ph. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  5. ^ "Historical Background of Cordillera's Pursuit for Regional Development and Autonomy". Cordillera.gov.ph. 1991-03-01. Archived from the original on 2013-07-17. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  6. ^ "Balweg's real killer identified". The Philippine Star. 7 January 2000. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Widow of former rebel priest Conrado Balweg dies". GMA News. 10 March 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  8. ^ Visaya, Villamor Jr. (December 31, 2012). "Rebel priest's son now an Army soldier". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Northern Luzon. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
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