New People’s Army (NPA) units conducted a silent 21-gun salute in various regions of the country as a tribute and salute to Ka Luis Jalandoni on June 12. The Red army carried this out in accordance with the directive of the Communist Party of the Philippines Central Committee.
Ka Louie passed away on June 7 at exactly 9:05 in the morning in Utrecht, the Netherlands (3:05 in the afternoon, Philippine time). He was 90 years old. At the time of his passing, Ka Louie was with comrades, his wife Ka Coni Ledesma, and his family.
The Red fighters gathered at daybreak on June 12, fell in formation and held a silent 21-gun salute. At these gatherings, the message of the Central Committee honoring Ka Louie was read.
“In recognition of Ka Louie’s exemplary and great contributions to the Filipino people’s revolutionary struggle, let us give him our firmest Red salute, and celebrate his extraordinary life,” according to the Central Committee.
In Southern Tagalog, the NPA’s Melito Glor Command led the gathering and tribute. Amid enemy operations, the Red army lined up and held the silent 21-gun salute.
Red fighters from various units of the people’s army in the region also recited together the “Tribute and Oath to Ka Louie” issued by the Party. Comrades Kathryn and Cleo del Mundo, spokespersons of NPA-Quezon (Apolonio Mendoza Command), led the oath in their respective units.
In addition, other NPA units in Southern Tagalog reported holding “Kapehan” (a discussion over coffee) to honor Ka Louie. NPA political officer Ka Maxie said, “Ka Louie can be assured that we will take the oath to heart and live it out. The life he offered for the revolution and the people will not be in vain.”
In Eastern Visayas, the region’s Efren Martires Command of the people’s army reported their activity. The unit also used the gathering and 21-gun salute to renew the people’s army’s oath to serve the people, just as Ka Louie devoted his whole life to the cause of the masses.
The command also expressed gratitude for “Ka Louie’s significant contributions to advancing the people’s democratic revolution, especially in the peace talks with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.”
On Negros Island, Ka Louie’s birthplace, units of the people’s army performed the 21-gun salute led by NPA-Negros (Apolinario Gatmaitan Command). “The masses have lost their son,” NPA regional command spokesperson Ka Maoche Legislador said.
“His decades of selfless and dedicated service to the oppresed and exploited classes is forever etched in the memory every Negrosanon who regarded him as their cherished son,” Ka Maoche added.
NPA-Northern Negros (Roselyn Pelle Command) spokesperson Ka Cecil Estrella said, “the reactionaries are fooling themselves in thinking that a demise of a revolutionary leader will hamper the revolution’s advance.” She said countless will pick the torch of revolution left behind by Ka Louie as the crisis of the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system further worsened under the US-Marcos.
It is the oath of every Red commander and fighter to uphold Ka Louie’s revolutionary legacy. “Let us emulate Ka Louie in his unwavering revolutionary resolve,” according to the Central Committee.
