Reference Book: Yuson, Alfred. In the Footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola (The Life of Bishop O. Escaler, S.J., D.D.). Jesuit Communications and Ernest Escaler. 2017.

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By the time I finished writing the manuscript of my book (The Expired Valor), I stumbled on an article (from Philippine Star webpage dated 27 August 2017) of Alfred A. Yuson – He was announcing the launching of the bio book, “The Life of an Outstanding Jesuit”.

I told myself; I must have that book to cross-check what I have written! So, I wrote by email Fr. Roberto Yap S.J., the President of Ateneo de Manila University that runs the Jesuit Communications, the publisher of the book, requesting for a Courtesy Call and Book Inquiry. I sent a CC (digital carbon copy) to Mr. Ernest Escaler, the co- publisher. Fr. Yap never replied but Mr. Escaler promptly wrote back on that same day I sent my email, telling me: for my interest in the book, he is sending me two complimentary copies…

I got the two books, through Lalamove, delivered on that same date, arranged by OJ Salubayba, Mr Ernest Executive Secretary,.

In the narration of Bishop Escaler about his rescue, I truly believe that Lieutenant Boy Bolo really deserves the Medal of Valor that the AFP turned down. In the book, the author immediately highlighted in his first chapter that the jungle that Boy Bolo penetrated was the stronghold of the MNLF that no one dared to enter.

The bishop narrated also the 1995 Ipil Massacre. It is important to mention and connect the Bishop’s 1985 kidnapping to this incident, to let everyone realize the bravery of Boy Bolo. A decade after bishop’s kidnapping, on April 4, 1995, the town of Ipil was devastated by a brutal assault known as the “Ipil Massacre”, where approximately 200 heavily armed militants from the Abu Sayyaf Group razed the town center, resulting in the deaths of 53 people and the taking of numerous hostages.

In page #18 of the book, the bishop said “he had doubts if the soldiers could continue their operation, after the rescue. General Castro said they would continue the pursuit after they rescued us, although I doubt if they would go through that thicket because it’s so hard to get in?” This is a statement of admiration for Bolo in pursuing them in an unknown territory.

The available information from a personal interview with the bishop revealed in the book, some aspects of his experience in captivity, though it does not describe in detail the conspicuous actions of Boy Bolo, itself. I have to read between the lines:

•          The Bishop’s mindset during captivity: He described that he was constantly praying and preparing himself for any outcome, “I always have faith in God, that He will not leave us. (Page #9). Perhaps, there was divine intervention to explain for the outcome of the operation; Bolo’s decisions must not be discounted.

•          Church Policy: General Castro, the SouthCom Commander, noted that bishops had agreed not to promise anything to kidnappers, as doing so would make other members of the clergy targets. (The no-ransom policy of the Catholic Church, in page #13)

•          Escaler, together with eight other persons, including three nuns, were rescued by army troopers led by Lt. Abubakar and Lt. Bolo after a 30-minute assault on the rebel camp. (according to page #16) Bolo’s name was only mentioned once. Lieutenant Abubakar was a mere platoon leader who just followed orders from Bolo, his company commander.

•          Upon hearing a barrage of gunfire about 2:30 p.m., the bishop’s driver shouted, “The bishop is in this house?” The house was immediately surrounded by military. There were reportedly 1,000 military men in the area, while a team of 40 commandos stormed the camp (according to page #17). The 1,000 men in the area are the Scout Rangers and Special Forces that were far away from the encounter site, that Bolo and his men raided.

•          At Page #20, the following narratives are: 1) They stopped on that day in a hide-out on a high mountain with some 10 huts which, they were told, was now two days away from the main MNLF camp. (The enemy’s strength is estimated to be company size, composed of 100 to 250 men – due to the number of huts. Likewise, this explained the three Igorot trackers pointed upward that Bolo and his team have to climb.

•          By then, the captives were almost dropping from sheer exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition. ‘I don’t know if I could have made the next two days to Kamlon’s camp,’ Bishop Escaler recalls. (this includes the captors, the hostage takers. It explains why the enemy was not able to react. They were caught surprised and ran away. The result was due to the relentless pursuing and running after the kidnappers by Bolo’s team. Bolo is correct by saying, “kung titigil tayo, mawawala na sila!” (If we stop, we will then lost them) Then, the enemy can reconsolidate their forces.

•          The nine were made to stay together in one hut while the kidnappers kept watch outside. (This explains why Bolo was able to save all the hostages without casualties)   

•          “We were just resting. Suddenly, an M-17 was fired and the container of rice was hit and it splattered all over, just close to my head. They re firing, I thought. The soldiers were shooting.” The soldiers, who the bishop later learned numbered some 40, were about to shoot into their hut when the bishop’s driver and the sisters shouted that they were in there and that they would not fire back. This was because Bolo saw the nun and ordered not to shoot; and Bolo showed himself to the hostages and identified themselves that they are soldiers.

•          The bishop and his party were ferried to Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City on helicopters, but only after they had to trek another three-and-a-half hours to a clearing. This was nighttime already, difficult to tell their whereabouts but Bolo made it possible to locate where the two helicopters landed.

Bishop Escaler wrote his own account of the episode by way of a pastoral letter to his friends and parishioners. He issued the letter from the Bishop’s residence in Ipil, Zamboanga, on March 8, 1985, upon his return to his prelature (shown in pages #21-23).

 

Dear Friends in Christ; Pax Christi:

Contrary to what from the beginning of our ministry as a bishop in 1976 when we had set as a policy never to write about one’s self but rather on the various works undertaken with your support and only in June and December of each year, extraordinary times call for exceptions. This time, due to the hundreds of telegrams, letters and phone calls that poured in from here and abroad expressing concern over the safety of the 11 of us from Ipil who had been kidnapped from February 22 morning to 25 evening and rescued by 40 military personnel at 2:30 p.m. of February 25th, I thought it best to write this brief and personal comment re: our captivity’ and to say thank you for all your prayers and concern.

The facts are clear enough: at 8:30 a.m. of February 22, 1985, enroute to Zamboanga on the Prelature’s Fiera jeep, 7 armed men with armalites and carbines stopped us on a lonely stretch of highway in Taungawun, Zamboanga del Sur (some 90 kms. from Zamboanga City). We were 11: myself, 2 Sisters, 3 teachers and the rest were prelature workers and students-4 men and 7 women. A bullet fired at our front tire forced us to stop and go with the 9 kidnappers, 6 adults and 3 boys who claimed to be Muslim MNLFs (Moro National Liberation Front).

Two elderly teachers at our bequest were allowed to find their way back to Zamboanga. The rest of us started on 4 difficult days of walking through steep hills and mountains where trails had to be hacked open with bolos and wading most of the time through rocky bed streams, winding through the thickets of forested jungles. For 3 nights we slept on wet mountaintops and river-beds, hounded by mosquitoes and leeches. Three unfortunate fishermen who saw us passing by were shot to death by our captors. Finally at 2:30 p.m. of Monday, February25th, as we reached a clearing of a very steep mountain where the captors had 10 Muslim type bamboo huts as a sub-camp, the silence was violently interrupted by shouting and a barrage of firing from M-17s and Armalites, for 30 minutes. A few bullets landed in the hut where we 9 were resting after hiking for 5 hours. Meliton, our driver, and the Sisters shouted. Monsignor is here-do not fire on our hut!’ We crept through the dirt and rolled down the mountain to a protective cover, while the barrage of bullets continued. None of the 9 kidnappers were caught. Another 5 hours of hiking and wading through the stream-beds culminated in an airlift by 3 Army helicopters to Zamboanga City. Thanks be to God, none of our rescuers were killed or wounded and all nine of us emerged from the ordeal unharmed and unscathed, though terribly dehydrated, exhausted and famished. Four had to be hospitalized. Doctors flew me to Manila on February 26th for medical check-up and rest.

On Sunday, March 10th, I will be back in Ipil to resume our work with our poor people.

Somehow, what enabled us, I think to survive was a spiritual optimism and trust that having placed ourselves in God’s hands and Our Lady’s, sooner or later in God’s own good time we would later be freed or rescued. Hence, during those difficult days, I never heard a word of complaint or discouragement from our fellow-captives. We started off with commending ourselves for the day to the Lord, commented joyfully at the beautiful waterfalls and forest surrounding our walks and thanked God for the handful of boiled rice and salt given us for food. At night, crowded together elbow-to-elbow on beddings of leaves, we would reflect on the day’s forced march and again commend ourselves to the Lord.

We were completely out of touch with the outside world; none of the negotiators ever contacted us. The main camp of their ‘commander’ was still two days’ march from the sub-camp where we were later rescued. However, hints were made to my companions that if the Bishop were to pay a ransom of P300,000′ we would be released.

However, according to an agreement with our fellow-Bishops and priests, should any be kidnapped, no ransom would be paid. Doing so would leave the door wide open for other kidnappings. This I made clear with the Muslim commander who led the captors. Whatever cash we had we willingly gave them-some P5,000 which the Sisters and teachers had with them to purchase supplies in Zamboanga City. Other valuables stolen by the captors were ordered returned by the 24-year-old Muslim commander. No one was touched and harmed. We respected their situation and I think they also respected the calmness of the victims.

I had been queried by foreign correspondents and local newsmen if the whole affair ‘had not been staged’ by powers-that-be who stood to profit from the spectacular rescue operations. Only God knows where the actual truth lies. Suffice it to say that I’m deeply grateful to the Army soldiers who had rescued us and treated us so well, and to their military commanders who plotted the operation; thankful to our Muslim captors for having treated us as decently as the situation called for, and most grateful for all of your prayers and Masses which drew down God’s mercy and protection on all of us.

It is a wonderful and humbling experience to have a ‘second lease’ on life; wonderful, because life becomes more precious and faith more realistic. Humbling, because of concern of friends like you, inspite of the fact that we had never been able to reciprocate your charity quite adequately. One last factor remains to be faced: if the Lord spared us this time, He still must have some work or suffering that needs to be done before the ‘final resurrection.’ I hope we can be equal to that challenge.

My remaining years will always be of thanksgiving and daily prayers for each and everyone of you.

Permit me to quote our Father General’s (Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.) parting words in his expression of gratitude during the Nuncio’s reception for him in Manila last Febuary 16th:

May I quote the Arabs when thanking their host: “If I could transform all the grains of sand in your garden into poetry, and speak a thousand nights in poetry, I would be expressing my gratitude to you only superficially?”

 

In Our Lord, 

[Signed]

Federico O. Escaler, S.J.

 

I truly believe, if not for Bolo’s quick thinking and decision making – the outcome of the rescue could have been different . . . The Singular Acts that the MOV Board refused to see and understand!