No ‘gentle soul’ but NPA instructor—Solcom

On Aug 24, 2020

Amado Khaya Canham Rodriguez, as appearing in social media. Known as 'Ka Allen,' Rodriguez, whose mother was a Filipina, was living in the United States with his family when he fell prey to the deceptive recruitment of the CPP-NPA and at age 20, went to the Philippines to join the NPA. He died from COVID-19 last August 4, 2020 at the age of 22.

THE Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is disputing a news report by mainstream media on the death last August 4, 2020, of a 22-year old South African with Filipino blood, which described him as an ordinary “activist” building home for the “poorest of the poor” in the hinterlands of Mindoro island.

Solcom commanding general, Lt. General Antonio ‘Jun’ Parlade said contrary to what has been reported, Amado Khaya Canham Rodriguez, was actually a “military instructor” of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), based on testimonies of former NPA fighters who confirmed they were trained by Rodriguez.

Parlade said Rodriguez was known in the NPA as ‘Ka Allen’ in the localities of Mindoro.

The official added that Rodriguez was also a member of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines, who was sent to Mindoro to help locate a new CPP-NPA ‘headquarters’ in the province.

At least three former NPA identified Ka Allen/Rodriguez as the person who instructed them on military tactics and operations in order for them to become members of the NPA’s elite, ‘Special Operations Group.’

The news reports said that Rodriguez’s family decided to settle in the United States and at age 20, he went to the Philippines.

He was believed to have died after contracting COVID-19.

Various media outlets reported that immediately, a fund-raising drive, through ‘Go Fund Me’ was initiated on social media that managed to raise US$39,221 “to support” his family and for his “medical expenses.”

Parlade said he wants the matter investigated further to include a “pastor” from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

The still unnamed pastor, Parlade said, brought Rodriguez’s body to a hospital in Mindoro before it mysteriously “disappeared.”