Conrado Balweg

Conrado Balweg
Born	December 29, 1942
Died	December 31, 1999(1999-12-31)(aged 57) Malibcong, Abra,Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Spouse	Corazon Cortel
Children	5
Ecclesiastical career
Religion	Catholicism
Ordained	November 27, 1970 PopePaul VI
Congregations served	Society of the Divine Word
Military career
Nickname(s)	Ka Ambo
Allegiance	New People's Army (1979–1986) Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (1986–1999)
Unit	Lumbaya Company (NPA)

Conrado Balweg(December 29, 1942 – December 31, 1999) was a formerFilipinoCatholicpriest and rebel who was the founder of theCordillera People's Liberation Army,a militant group which advocatedautonomyfor theCordillera regionin thePhilippines.He was also known by thenom-de-guerreKa Ambo.

Career

Balweg, a member of theTingguianpeople, was ordained a priest of theSociety of the Divine Wordcongregation by PopePaul VIin 1970 during thelatter's pastoral visittoManila.He joined theNew People's Armyin 1979 when he was inspired to fight for the Cordillera people after tribal leaderMacli-ing Dulagwas killed that same year. Dulag was opposed to a plan of the government to build ahydroelectric damin theCordilleras.In the early 1980s, theArmed Forces of the Philippineshad tagged Balweg as its most-wanted man with a bounty of₱200,000.As an NPA member, he was part of the Lumbaya Company.

Balweg formed theCordillera People’s Liberation Army(CPLA) in 1986 with fellow priest, Bruno Ortega.Under his leadership, the CPLA made asipatorceasefirewith thePhilippine governmentat the Mt. Data Hotel, inBauko,Mountain Provinceon September 13, 1986. The agreement between the two sides was called the 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord.

Death

Members of the Chadli Molintas Cordillera Region Command of theNew People's Armykilled 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 theRevolutionary Movement".

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.

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 inGamu, Isabelaon March 10, 2008, leaving behind five children.

Jordan, one of Balweg's children, was a CPLA member who was integrated into thePhilippine Armyin 2012.

In popular culture

Balweg's turn from a priest to a communist rebel was depicted in the 1987 filmBalweg,directed by Anthony "Butch" Perez and starringPhillip Salvadoras Balweg andRio Locsinas his wife Azon.