Conrado Balweg

{{Short description|Filipino priest and rebel}} {{Use Philippine English|date=February 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Conrado Balweg | image =  | alt =  | caption = | birth_name =  | birth_date = December 29, 1942 | birth_place = Commonwealth of the Philippines | death_date = {{Death date and age|1999|12|31|1942|12|29}} | death_place = Malibcong, Abra, Philippines | occupation = | years_active = | known_for = | spouse = Corazon Cortel | children = 5 | notable_works = | module = {{Infobox clergy | child = yes | education = | alma_mater = | relatives =  | website =  | religion = Catholicism | church = | ordained = November 27, 1970<br/>Pope Paul VI | writings = | congregations = Society of the Divine Word | offices_held = | title = | signature = | signature_alt = | footnotes = }} | module2 = {{Infobox military person | embed = yes | nickname = Ka Ambo | allegiance = New People's Army<br/>(1979–1986)<br/>Cordillera People’s Liberation Army<br/>(1986–1999) | unit = Lumbaya Company (NPA) | service_years = | rank = }} }} '''Conrado M. Balweg'''<ref name="FBIS783a" /> (December 29, 1942 – December 31, 1999)<ref name="pdi102" /> was a former Filipino Catholic priest and rebel<ref name="FBIS783a" /> 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'''.<ref name="neda">{{cite web|last1=Bahatan|first1=Fernando Jr.|title=Cordillera Autonomy: Looking Around and Farther Back|url=http://car.neda.gov.ph/cordillera-autonomy-looking-around-and-farther-back-by-fernando-bahatan/|publisher=National Economic and Development Authority - Cordillera Administrative Region|accessdate=October 3, 2017|date=April 24, 2009}}</ref>

==Life== <!-- He joined the NPA in 1979 in light of abuses against the Itneg people by the Marcos administration, which wanted to promote the interests of the Cellophil Resources Corporation.<ref name="Bagadion1991">Bagadion, Benjamin Jr. (1991 Januar-December). THE RISE AND FALL OF A CRONY CORPORATION. Philippine Sociological Review. Vol. 39, No. 1/4. Philippine Sociological Society. pp. 24-29. https://www.jstor.org/stable/</ref>

As an NPA member, he was part of the Lumbaya Company.<ref name="neda"/>

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.<ref>{{cite web |author=Virgilio M Gaje |url=http://archives.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=CAR&id=54705&y=2011&mo=09 |title=[PIA News] CPLA commemorates Mount Data peace accord |publisher=Archives.pia.gov.ph |date=February 1, 2012 |accessdate=September 4, 2013 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035138/http://archives.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=CAR&id=54705&y=2011&mo=09 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cordillera.gov.ph/index.php/the-rdc-agenda-on-regional-autonmy/99-history |title=Historical Background of Cordillera's Pursuit for Regional Development and Autonomy |publisher=Cordillera.gov.ph |date=March 1, 1991 |accessdate=September 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717080508/http://www.cordillera.gov.ph/index.php/the-rdc-agenda-on-regional-autonmy/99-history |archive-date=July 17, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>--> ===Early and personal life=== Balweg was born on December 29, 1942, in Buanao, (present-day) Malibcong.<ref name="pdi102" /> He was a member of the Tingguian tribe;<ref name="R&C86" /><ref name="ap0485" /><ref name="ucan0486" /><ref name="ucan1087">{{cite news |date=October 13, 1987 |title=UCAN interview -- Balweg: Autonomy = village life on macro level |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1987/10/14/ucan-interview-balweg-autonomy-village-life-on-macro-level&post_id=1493 |work=Union of Catholic Asian News |access-date=January 20, 2026}}</ref> and came from a wealthy family in northern Abra.<ref name="mn0825">{{cite news |last=Cimatu |first=Frank |date=August 27, 2025 |title=Special report: The tale of the two Cordillera Days |url=https://mindanews.com/special-reports/2025/08/special-report-the-tale-of-the-two-cordillera-days/ |work=MindaNews |access-date=January 11, 2026}}</ref> He had four brothers and three sisters.<ref name="acn0218B" />

His younger brother Jovencio{{efn-ua|Jovencio was also known variously as ''"Ka Rudy"'',<ref name="pdi102b" /><ref name="ms104" /><ref name="ps09" /> ''"Ka Bencio"'',<ref name="pdi102b" /> ''"Ka Adel"'',<ref name="ms104" /> and ''"Ka Dawa"''.<ref name="ps09" />}} was the municipal secretary of Malibcong by 1970s until joining him in the communist Cordillera People's Democratic Front (CPDF) of the New People's Army (NPA) in 1979.<ref name="pdi102b" /><ref name="ps09" /> By early 1998, he was a top cadre of the CPDF in Abra.<ref name="pdi102b" /> He held several key positions in the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People's Army (CPP–NPA) hierarchy in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions, notably being a ranking member of the executive committee of the area's Regional Party Committee.<ref name="pdi102b">{{cite news |last=Cimatu |first=Frank |date=January 2, 2000 |title=Ex-rebel priest's brother is a mysterious man |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=83UE6yvegO4C&dat=20000102&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |location=Makati |publisher=PDI, Inc. |page=12 |access-date=January 15, 2026 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref><ref name="ps09" />{{efn-ua|Jovencio was also an alternate secretary of the provincial education committee;<ref name="ps09" /> commanding officer of the Provincial Army committee<ref name="ps09" /> (at the time of Conrado's death);<ref name="pdi102b" /> and political officer of the NPA's Provincial Operational Command (at the time he was arrested, 2009).<ref name="ps09" />}} He left the NPA upon his arrest in 2009. In 2016 elections, he won a seat at the Malibcong municipal council.<ref name="acn0318B" />

Balweg was married to Corazon Cortel;<ref name="pdi109" /><ref name="gma0308" /> with whom he had six children.<ref name="pdi102" /><ref name="ms109" /> Upon Balweg's death, Cortel became the chief of staff of the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA). She died of cardiac arrest at Camp Upi in Gamu, Isabela, on March 10, 2008.<ref name="gma0308">{{cite news |date=March 10, 2008 |title=Widow of former rebel priest Conrado Balweg dies |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/84207/widow-of-former-rebel-priest-conrado-balweg-dies/story/ |work=GMA News |access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref>

In 2012, one of his children, a CPLA member, was integrated into the Philippine Army.<ref name="acn0218B" />

===Life as a priest=== Three Balweg brothers entered the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) congregation, but only Conrado was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI during the latter's pastoral visit to Manila in 1970.<ref name="ucan105" /> He became the parish priest of Luba, Tubo and Sallapadan.<ref name="ap0784" /><ref name="pdi109" /> In the early years, he combined Catholic mass with Tingguian rituals.<ref name="R&C86" />

====CRC issue==== Later, Balweg, along with fellow tingguian priests, brothers Cirilo and Bruno Ortega (SVD),<ref name="ucan0486" /><ref name="pdi102b" /> led the Tingguians in their opposition to a project by the Cellophil Resources Corporation (CRC),<ref name="R&C86" /> which was planning to establish a rayon plant in Tayum,<ref name="pdi102b" /> to retain their ancestral lands.<ref name="ap0485" /> CRC was granted the largest logging concession by the national government under president Ferdinand Marcos in 1973–74 for its paper project;<ref name="ucan0486" /> and threatened to affect over 200,000 hectares of forest land in Abra, the present-day Kalinga, and Mountain Province,<ref name="pdi109" /> as well as much of ancestral land.<ref name="ucan0486" /> CRC began a massive logging operation in Abra in 1972, displacing Tingguians from their ancestral lands in the forest.<ref name="R&C86" />

Meanwhile, CRC, being "the primary issue" involving Tingguians, among other development projects in the 1970s<ref name="ucan0486" /> including the Chico River Dam Project,<ref name="ap0784" /> contributed to the increase of strength of the communist NPA in Cordillera mountains in northern Luzon,<ref name="ucan0486" /> as well as its support from the displaced Igorot people.<ref name="ap0784" /><ref name="ucan0486" /> The leftist group first appeared in the area in 1976.<ref name="ap0784" />

As a result of their activities, Balweg was accused of being an NPA sympathizer.<ref name="R&C86" /> The struggle involving CRC later drove Tingguians to join the NPA.<ref name="pdi102b" /> After receiving death threats,<ref name="R&C86" /> and to protest what he believed was repression and land-grabbing under the Marcos presidency,<ref name="upi687" /> as well as to defend his tribe against loggers<ref name="ucan1087" /> and further denudation of the forest,<ref name="mn0825" /> in 1979, he left the rectory,<ref name="ucan105" /> fled to the hills,<ref name="R&C86" /> and joined the said communist group.{{efn-ua|A 1985 news report by Associated Press stated that Balweg joined the rebels in January 1980.<ref name="ap0485" />}}<ref name="R&C86" /><ref name="ap0784" /><ref name="ucan0686" /><ref name="ucan1087" /> Such involvement resulted to his expulsion from the SVD<ref name="ucan0486" /><ref name="ucan1087" /> where at the time, there was reportedly a split among Filipino and foreign priests.<ref name="ucan0486" /> However, in 1984, Balweg claimed being on leave from SVD, as his colleagues in Manila still consider him a priest.<ref name="ap0485" />

===Revolutionary career=== ====With the NPA==== In the first interview with NPA members, aired on a government television station on April 18, 1986, Balweg said he would not join the NPA if the Church in the province had responded to human rights abuses against the tribals.<ref name="ucan0486">{{cite news |date=April 22, 1986 |title=Rebel priests Balweg and Ortega make peace offer in Philippine TV interview |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1986/04/23/rebel-priests-balweg-and-ortega-make-peace-offer-in-philippine-tv-interview&post_id=33952 |work=Union of Catholic Asian News |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref>

Balweg was later inspired by the heroism of tribal leader Macli-ing Dulag,<ref name="ucan105" /> one of the leaders of the Igorots opposing the government's Chico River Dam Project,<ref name="R&C86" /> a planned hydroelectric dam in the Cordilleras—a predominantly tribal region.<ref name="ucan105" /> Dulag was assassinated in 1980.<ref name="R&C86">{{cite journal |last=Grossman |first=Zoltan |date=1986 |title=Inside the Philippine resistance |url=https://sites.evergreen.edu/zoltan/wp-content/uploads/sites/358/2019/09/raceandclass.pdf |journal=Race & Class |volume=xxviii |issue=2 |location=London |publisher=Institute of Race Relations |pages=10–16 |doi= |issn= |access-date=January 12, 2026 |via=Evergreen State College}}</ref>

Balweg, the Ortegas, and Nilo Valerio, from being Roman Catholic priests, eventually became members of NPA, particularly the CPDF,<ref name="pdi102b" /> hence they were called "rebel priests."<ref>{{cite book |author=Agence France-Presse via Philippines Daily Express |chapter=Four rebel priests 'disowned' by church superiors (Philippines; June 19, 1983) |chapter-url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA346035.pdf |editor=Foreign Broadcast Information Service |date=July 25, 1983 |title=Southeast Asia Report, no. 1316 |location=Springfield, Virginia |publisher=National Technical Information Service, United States Department of Commerce |page=31 |access-date=January 12, 2026 |via=Defense Technical Information Center}}</ref> Balweg, belonged to the Lumbaya Company,<ref name="mn0825" /> adopted the ''nom de guerre "Ka Ambo"''.<ref name="pdi102b" />{{efn-ua|Other source stated that Conrado had also aliases ''"Ka Dado"'' and ''"Ka Primo"''.<ref name="FBIS783a" />}} He was the CPP spokesperson in the Cordillera in the early 1980s.<ref name="pdi109" /> He fought in the Cordillera mountain range until the 1986 People Power Revolution.<ref name="upi687" />

Balweg, upon joining the Cordillera guerrillas, had 32 fighters, which were believed to have grown to up to 700 by mid-1984. He claimed 99% of the recruits were from mountain villages. In 1984, a military operation composed of a 1,000-member team was launched against them.<ref name="ap0485">{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=April 28, 1985 |title=Outlaw priest says anti-Marcos forces tripled in past year |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19850428-01.2.87&srpos=1&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-conrado+balweg-------0------ |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |location=Denver |publisher= |page=44 |access-date=January 24, 2026 |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection}}</ref>

Balweg had strongholds in the present-day Kalinga.<ref name="FBIS783a" /><ref name="ap0784">{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=July 8, 1984 |title=Philippine army launches major drive against rebels |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19840708-01.2.98&srpos=3&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-conrado+balweg-------0------ |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |location=Denver |publisher= |page=42 |access-date=January 23, 2026 |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection}}</ref> Efforts to negotiate his surrender became difficult.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 29, 1981 |title=Communist priest leads attack |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/05/29/Communist-priest-leads-attack/9570359956800/ |agency=United Press International |access-date=January 21, 2026}}</ref> By mid-1983, the Armed Forces of the Philippines offered {{Philippine peso|200,000}}{{efn-ua|Equivalent to US$11,111 by 1984;<ref name="ap0784" /> US$10,260 by mid-1986;<ref name="ucan0686" /> and probably $6,350 by late 1986.<ref name="upi1286" />}} for his neutralization<ref name="FBIS783a">{{cite book |author=Bulletin Today |chapter=Reward for Balweg's capture (Philippines; June 20, 1983) |chapter-url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA346035.pdf |editor=Foreign Broadcast Information Service |date=July 25, 1983 |title=Southeast Asia Report, no. 1316 |location=Springfield, Virginia |publisher=National Technical Information Service, United States Department of Commerce |page=27 |access-date=January 12, 2026 |via=Defense Technical Information Center}}</ref> as he had been tagged as its most wanted.<ref name="ucan105" /> The bounty was lifted by defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile on June 19, 1986.<ref name="ucan0686" />

====CPLA==== President Corazon Aquino, since the beginning of her tenure in 1986, offered reconciliation with the communists.<ref name="ucan0486" /> Meanwhile, Balweg led the advocacy for the autonomy for the Cordillera people.<ref name="ucan0686" /><ref name="pdi109" />

In April 1986,<ref name="upi1286" /> Balweg, along with Bruno Ortega,<ref name="ucan105" /><ref name="pdi102b" /> and his CPDF's Lumbaya Company,<ref name="pdi102b" /> broke away from the CPP–NPA<ref name="upi1286" /> and formed the CPLA,<ref name="AR13" /> which would be headed by him.<ref name="upi687" /> They were joined later by some cadres, particularly in present-day Kalinga and Abra.<ref name="AR13" /> Balweg, citing disagreement with other commanders,<ref name="HR890" /> alleged that the NPA had ignored the plight of the Cordilleras,<ref name="acn0218B" /> and that their ideology was inappropriate.<ref name="HR890" /> The split weakened the CPP-NPA in the region.<ref name="AR13">{{cite report |date=June 19, 2013 |title=The Philippines: Dismantling Rebel Groups |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/the-philippines-dismantling-rebel-groups.pdf |work=Asia Report no. 248 |location=Brussels |publisher=International Crisis Group |docket= |pages=8–14 |access-date=January 12, 2026}}</ref>

Balweg revealed in an exclusive media interview that he was opting for a legal or open struggle rather than armed struggle while the latter was effective.<ref>{{cite book |author=((Carmel Pizarro of Business Day)) |chapter=Balweg favors legal struggle in Cordillera region (Philippines; July 2, 1986) |chapter-url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA346552.pdf |editor=Foreign Broadcast Information Service |date=August 2, 1986 |title=Southeast Asia Report |location=Springfield, Virginia |publisher=National Technical Information Service, United States Department of Commerce |pages=24–26 |access-date=January 22, 2026 |via=Defense Technical Information Center}}</ref> Since as early as June, there were meetings and peace talks between Balweg's group and the government panel, including president Aquino and negotiator Butz Aquino (her brother-in-law), in the Cordillera mountains, in an attempt to resolve problems regarding insurgency.<ref>{{cite book |author=Philippine News Agency |chapter='Renegade' priest may meet with president (Philippines; July 3, 1986) |chapter-url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA346552.pdf |editor=Foreign Broadcast Information Service |date=August 2, 1986 |title=Southeast Asia Report |location=Springfield, Virginia |publisher=National Technical Information Service, United States Department of Commerce |pages=27 |access-date=January 22, 2026 |via=Defense Technical Information Center}}</ref> Discussed were plans for a ceasefire<ref name="ucan0686" /> and proposed autonomy for the tribal Cordillera region.<ref name="ucan0686" /><ref name="upi1286" /><ref name="ucan1087" />

In September, president Aquino recognized Balweg as chief spokesperson for the Cordillera area.<ref name="ucan1087" /> On September 13, in a hotel atop Mount Data in Bauko, Mountain Province,<ref name="RD0986" /> the Aquino government,<ref name="gma0308" /><ref name="upi1286" /><ref name="acn0318B" /> the CPLA,<ref name="RD0986" /> and the Cordillera People's Administration,<ref name="acn0318B" /> forged the Mount Data Peace Accord,<ref name="ms104" /><ref name="acn0218B" /> the first peace agreement<ref name="pdi109" /> granting autonomy for Igorot tribesmen,<ref name="upi687" /> covering the five provinces that would make up the tribal Cordillera mountain region—the first step in reaching a lasting peace with the government.<ref name="RD0986">{{cite news |agency=AP/UPI |date=September 14, 1986 |title=Aquino signs cease-fire with 'liberation army' |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19860914-01.2.117&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-conrado+balweg-------0------ |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |location=Denver |publisher= |page=61 |access-date=January 24, 2026 |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection}}</ref> In a traditional ceremony known as a ''sipat'' that ended hostilities,<ref name="AR13" /> Balweg and Aquino, with defense secretary Enrile, exchanged tokens.<ref name="AR13" /><ref name="mn0825" /> This paved the way for ''Executive Order No. 220'' in 1987, creating the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), integrating Cordillera rebels with the police and the military in anti-communist operations,<ref name="acn0218B" /> and calling for the creation of a regional security force.<ref name="AR13" />

President Aquino later decided against his appointment as the executive director of the CAR due to opposition from various groups.<ref name="uca1087" /> During the presidency of Joseph Estrada, Balweg, with then Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, chaired a committee created to discuss the autonomy for the Cordilleras.<ref name="ps107" />

Balweg later envisioned the establishment of the Cordillera Universal Peace Center in Banaue, Ifugao, "as a contribution of all indigenous peoples of the world to the pursuit of universal peace and harmony."<ref name="pdi109" />

=====Status of Balweg's campaigns===== For the 1987 plebiscite, Balweg supported the ratification of the constitution which included a provision calling for the creation of autonomous regions for both minority tribes in Luzon and the Muslims in the country's south.<ref name="upi1286">{{cite news |last=Reed |first=Jack |date=December 16, 1986 |title=Rebel priest talks peace at lunch with Aquino |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/12/16/Rebel-priest-talks-peace-at-lunch-with-Aquino/8857535093200/ |agency=United Press International |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref> Such provision on the regional autonomy was likewise promoted by highlander organizations including CPLA.<ref name="AR13" /> However, it was rejected by a majority of voters in two separate plebiscites.<ref name="acn0218B" /><ref name="ucan105" /> Balweg was among those supported the autonomy in 1990; but decided to campaign against it in 1998, causing his ouster as CPLA head.<ref name="mn0825" />

Meanwhile, Balweg and other CPLA leaders were in favor of the proposed regional security force, which was never materialized as CPLA members became part of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), the countrywide auxiliary force. They opposed the integration into the military, creating internal rifts within the CPLA.<ref name="AR13" /> On August 3, 2001, president Gloria Arroyo signed ''Administrative Order 18'' providing for the integration of 1,200 CPLA members as officers, enlisted personnel, and CAFGU Active Auxiliaries.<ref name="gma0308" /> Since then, a number of CPLA members, mostly new recruits, joined either of these.<ref name="AR13" />

Balweg's wife, in her later years, supervised livelihood projects for cooperatives of former CPLA members, and the integration of others to the Philippine Army.<ref name="gma0308" />

Since the 1986 ''sipat'', isolated indigenous communities in the Cordillera had become more peaceful (while political violence is extreme in Abra). CPLA, despite setbacks, never again involved in conflict against the state; while their political exposure declined. Moreover, an effort to unify the factions eventually failed.<ref name="AR13" />

Since the effectivity of ''EO No. 220'', the CAR's annual appropriation has been reduced. At the time of presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, Balweg's brother Jovencio was leading those still seeking the implementation of the 1986 agreement. Balweg's remaining brothers and former CPLA members still wanted the autonomy for the Cordillerans over Duterte's proposed federalism if it would be acceptable to them.<ref name="acn0218B">{{cite news |last=Lirio |first=Gerry |date=February 21, 2018 |title=Balweg's brothers, ex-comrades: Autonomy first, before federalism |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/focus/02/21/18/balwegs-brothers-ex-comrades-autonomy-first-before-federalism |work=ABS-CBN News |access-date=January 19, 2026}}</ref>

====Rivalry between NPA and CPLA==== In June 1986, an eight-day meeting between Balweg and the NPA resolved some of their differences and they "agreed to be military allies and forge tighter unity."<ref name="ucan0686">{{cite news |date=June 24, 1986 |title=Philippine rebel priest discusses cease-fire and autonomy with Aquino envoy |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1986/06/25/philippine-rebel-priest-discusses-ceasefire-and-autonomy-with-aquino-envoy&post_id=34175 |work=Union of Catholic Asian News |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref>

Nevertheless, Balweg, since leaving the NPA, was publicly renounced by the group for his abandonment of the latter's cause.<ref name="upi687" /> NPA claimed expelling Balweg for misusing funds and womanizing;<ref name="ucan0686" /> and later accused him of stealing firearms, abduction, killing, and treason after forming the CPLA.<ref name="ucan105" /> An execution order for him was issued in 1987.<ref name="ms104" />

The CPLA had been regarded by some groups as an anti-communist vigilante due to their cooperation with the military's anti-NPA operations. It had also been accused by groups in the region of "misrepresenting the Cordillera people" and of powergrabbing, and had been racked by defections by two ranking leaders protesting "Balweg's dictatorial ways."<ref name="uca1087" />

On the other hand, the split among the rebels later restrained relationship among the Balweg brothers.<ref name="acn0318B">{{cite news |last=Lirio |first=Gerry |date=March 15, 2018 |title=Balweg hits terror list: 'We left the underground long ago' |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/focus/03/15/18/balweg-hits-terror-list-we-left-the-underground-long-ago |work=ABS-CBN News |access-date=January 19, 2026}}</ref> In a media interview in 1998, Jovencio, who had not met Conrado since 1986, said the latter has long betrayed the Tingguians, and criticized a radio interview by the latter who said that political leaders should be educated.<ref name="pdi102b" />

===1987 ambush on Balweg and death of Ngaya-an=== On June 21, 1987, Balweg managed to escape an ambush on his two-jeep convoy on a mountainous dirt road in Licuan-Baay where eight of his followers were killed and another is injured as the leading vehicle was shot.<ref name="upi687">{{cite news |last=Deane |first=Daniela |date=June 22, 1987 |title=Rebel priest escapes deadly ambush |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/06/22/Rebel-priest-escapes-deadly-ambush/5406551332800/ |agency=United Press International |access-date=January 11, 2026}}</ref>

The military had since blamed the attack on the NPA,<ref name="upi687" /> while Balweg accused his brother Jovencio of leading a CPDF force in the incident.<ref name="pdi102b" />

On October 5, Daniel Ngaya-an, chairman of tribal organization Cordillera Bodong Association (CBA), was abducted by CPLA members at the latter's checkpoint at Pasil, Kalinga-Apayao, and later detained at the nearby CPLA headquarters.<ref name="HR890" /><ref name="GR80591" /> He was reportedly killed;<ref name="uca1087" /> his body was later found.<ref name="HR890" />{{efn-ua|Records from the Supreme Court suggest that Daniel Ngaya-an has been missing; and that Balweg, in a radio interview, hinted that he might be killed by the CPLA.<ref name="GR80591" />}} Ngaya-an, Kalinga tribal leader, was supposed to help negotiate peace pacts among tribes in Lubuagan.<ref name="uca1087" />

Balweg admitted in a radio interview that the CPLA is responsible for Ngaya-an's disappearance.<ref name="GR80591">{{cite PH act |title=In the matter of the petition for habeas corpus in behalf of D. Ngaya-an, C. Ngaya-an, C. Wingnga & F. Ngaya-an Tacalig, petitioners, vs. C. Balweg, S. Appag, & the CPLA, respondents |chamber=GR |number=80591 |folio=SC en banc decision |date=August 5, 1991 |url=https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1991/aug1991/gr_80591_1991.html |access-date=January 19, 2026}}</ref> He later confessed to a retaliatory killing—"a moral and logical answer to Ngayaan's open crime" against CPLA—in his statement, while saying that the June attack was a declaration of war against the CPLA. In response, Jovencio, then with the NPA's Abra province command, said the CPLA were mistaken for the military and became a target of the attack.<ref name="uca1087">{{cite news |date=October 13, 1987 |title=Former rebel priest Balweg criticized for tribal reprisal-killing |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1987/10/14/former-rebel-priest-balweg-criticized-for-tribal-reprisalkilling&post_id=35817 |work=Union of Catholic Asian News |access-date=January 11, 2026}}</ref>

In 1989, the Supreme Court issued an arrest order for Balweg and his aide for their refusal to answer charges in the killing;<ref name="HR890">{{cite book |date=August 1990 |title=The Philippines: Violations of the Laws of War by Both Sides (An Asia Watch Report) |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/pdfs/p/philippn/philippi908.pdf |location=New York City |publisher=Human Rights Watch |page=152 |isbn=0-929692-52-7 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |via=HRW website}}</ref> the order was lifted after two months.<ref name="GR80591" /> The petition for ''habeas corpus'', filed in behalf of Ngaya-an against Balweg, was dismissed in 1991.<ref name="GR80591" />

===Attempt in politics=== In 1998, Balweg lost to Abra provincial governor Atty. Vicente Valera in a bid for a legislative seat to represent the province's lone district.<ref name="pdi109" /><ref name="pdi98e" /><ref>{{cite news |date=April 22, 1998 |title=Political "dynasties" in Abra |url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.balita-news/c/-Vt2GLldDrM/m/oOFweRSJT-UJ |work=Philippine News Agency |access-date=January 12, 2026 |via=Google Groups}}</ref> During the election campaign, the two accused each other of harassing the voters.<ref name="pdi98e">{{cite news |date=May 5, 1998 |title=Feature — Battles of the North |url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.balita-news/c/05gr0sYck3c/m/CZnb0bu67V4J |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=January 12, 2026 |via=Google Groups}}</ref> It was believed that Balweg's loss was due to perceptions that he might rule the province through his militia.<ref name="pdi109" />

At the time of his death, Balweg was reportedly preparing to resume his attempt to enter politics through the 2001 elections. At that time, he belonged to ''Lapian ng Masang Pilipino'' of president Joseph Estrada.<ref name="pdi109" />

==Death== ===Events leading to his assassination=== Balweg reportedly prepared a letter addressed to president Estrada regarding peace efforts in Abra, which would be delivered in case something happened to him in Malibcong.<ref name="pdi102">{{cite news |last=Alcantara |first=Nathan |date=January 2, 2000 |title="Balweg knew he was going to die" |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=83UE6yvegO4C&dat=20000102&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |location=Makati |publisher=PDI, Inc. |page=12 |access-date=July 31, 2019 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref>

On Balweg's birthday in 1999, his family visited their ancestral house in Malibcong. The following day, he and Jovencio met the whole day to discuss their ideological differences.<ref name="pdi102" />

Meanwhile, a death sentence for Balweg was read by the hastily-formed kangaroo court inside the residence where Balwegs gathered for a family reunion.<ref name="ms104" /> Balweg was shot to death at 4 a.m. of December 31, 1999,<ref name="ms104" /><ref name="ucan105" /> by a lone NPA assassin<ref name="pdi102" /> at his residence.<ref name="ucan105" /> Four shots were heard;<ref name="pdi102" /> he sustained two gunshot wounds.<ref name="pdi102" /><ref name="ucan105" />

The NPA Chadli Molintas Command in the Cordillera, present in the time of the incident,<ref name="ab0100" /><ref name="ucan105" /> admitted responsibility for the murder.<ref name="ab0100" /><ref name="pdi109" /> The NPA said in a statement that they executed Balweg for his "crimes against the [Cordillera] people and the revolutionary movement."<ref name="ab0100">{{cite news |date=January 2000 |title=Conrado Balweg punished |url=https://philippinerevolution.nu/1998-2005/cgi_bin/abshow/abshow68-6.htm?year=2000;month=01;day=;edition=eng;article=14 |work=Ang Bayan |access-date=January 19, 2026 |via=Philippine Revolution Web Central}}</ref><ref name="ucan105" /> NPA also alleged that he collected money from the government and private companies.<ref name="ms109" /> CPP founder Jose Maria Sison said that the killing was long overdue.<ref name="ms104">{{cite news |last1=Sy Egco |first1=Joel |last2=Bautista |first2=Sam |last3=Landingin |first3=JJ |date=January 4, 2000 |title=NPA kangaroo court sentenced Balweg |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=20000104&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |newspaper=Manila Standard |location=Manila |publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corporation |pages=1–2 |access-date=January 15, 2026 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> The leaders of CBA and CPLA condemned the killing.<ref name="pdi109" />

His wish to be cremated was not granted by Tingguian elders, and he was buried instead in the public cemetery in Bangued<ref name="ucan105">{{cite news |date=January 5, 2000 |title=Priest-turned-rebel killed by communist guerrillas led by brother |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/2000/01/06/priestturnedrebel-killed-by-communist-guerrillas-led-by-brother&post_id=15134 |work=Union of Catholic Asian News |access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref> on January 8, 2000,<ref name="ms109">{{cite news |last1=Bautista |first1=Sam |last2=Landingin |first2=JJ |date=January 9, 2000 |title=Balweg laid to rest |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UmcVAAAAIBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false |newspaper=Manila Standard |location=Manila |publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corporation |page=4A |access-date=January 16, 2026 |via=Google Books}}</ref> which was attended by 2,000 members and supporters of the CPLA. Though some local politicians expressed their condolences, none of the key political figures appeared on his interment.<ref name="pdi109">{{cite news |last=Cabreza |first=Vincent |date=January 9, 2000 |title=Officials snub Balweg burial |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8oc1AAAAIBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |location=Makati |publisher=PDI, Inc. |page=10 |access-date=January 16, 2026 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

===Suspects=== The police initially reported that Jovencio was the suspect.<ref name="ps107" /> However, Jovencio, who had been leading the command involved in the killing,<ref name="ucan105" />{{efn-ua|At the time of Conrado's death, Jovencio was reported the leader of the NPA's Chadli Molintas Command.<ref name="ucan105" /> Another source stated that he led the Agustin Begnalen Command.<ref name="x-ps0802" />}} later denied firing the bullets that killed his brother.<ref name="ms104" /><ref name="ucan105" />

Police later found Procopio Tauro{{efn-ua|Procopio Tauro was also known variously as ''"Ka Pyro"''<ref name="ps107" /><ref name="x-ab1110" /> and ''"Ka Lito"''.<ref name="ps107" />}} to be directly responsible for killing Balweg.<ref name="ps107" /> Tauro, NPA ''Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda'' team leader,<ref name="ms109" /> was the one who reportedly convened the kangaroo court.<ref name="ms104" /> It was reported that Tauro shot Balweg, allegedly on orders of Jovencio;<ref name="ms109" /> and the two were with other NPA rebels present at that time.<ref name="ps107">{{cite news |date=January 7, 2000 |title=Balweg's real killer identified |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2000/01/07/93623/balwegs-real-killer-identified |newspaper=The Philippine Star |location=Taguig |publisher=Philstar Global Corp. |access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref>

On January 4, 2000, Jovencio, Tauro, and four other companions{{efn-ua|Florece Baluga, Maco Guinnay, Marcelo Dao-ayan, & Lito Laguicao.<ref name="x-ps0802" /> Dao-ayan was killed in an encounter with the police in Buguias, Benguet, in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allad-iw |first1=Arthur |last2=Ramo |first2=Lyn |date=August 19, 2005 |title=Benguet murder violates CARHRIHL |url=https://www.nordis.net/news/2005/ndw050821/ndw050821_01benguetkilling.htm |work=Northern Dispatch |location=Baguio |publisher=Northern Dispatch Media Network, Inc. |access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref> ''The fate of other co-accused are uncertain.''}} (along with several John Does), were charged in court with murder.<ref name="x-ps0802">{{cite news |last1=Supnad |first1=Myds |last2=Alhambra |first2=Vic Jr. |last3=Dumlao |first3=Artemio |date=August 29, 2002 |title=NPA leader implicated in Balweg murder falls |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2002/08/29/173855/npa-leader-implicated-balweg-murder-falls |newspaper=The Philippine Star |location=Taguig |publisher=Philstar Global Corp. |access-date=January 29, 2026}}</ref> Likewise, at least 13 non-government organization and church workers, and activist leaders in the Ilocos Region were implicated. More than eight were arrested, including three pastors of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Five cases were filed before the Bangued Regional Trial Court (RTC); by September 2007, all of these were dismissed for lack of evidence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allad-iw |first1=Arthur |last2=Olea |first2=Ronalyn |date=September 22, 2007 |title=Protestant Pastor Implicated in Balweg Slay Released |url=https://www.bulatlat.com/2007/09/22/protestant-pastor-implicated-in-balweg-slay-released/ |newspaper=Northern Dispatch |access-date=January 19, 2026 |via=Bulatlat}}</ref>

On May 18, 2009, Jovencio, along with his wife, was captured in Baguio.<ref name="ps09">{{cite news |last1=Dumlao |first1=Artemio |last2=Alquitran |first2=Non |last3=Suerte Felipe |first3=Cecille |date=May 20, 2009 |title=Couple nabbed for Balweg's murder |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2009/05/20/469056/couple-nabbed-balwegs-murder |newspaper=The Philippine Star |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref> All criminal cases against him, including his involvement in his brother's death, were dismissed, and he was freed from detention after being ordered by the Bangued RTC on July 19, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bordadora |first=Norman |date=July 23, 2011 |title=Rebel leader Jovencio Balweg freed |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/28039/rebel-leader-jovencio-balweg-freed |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref>

In October 2010, Tauro was killed in a gun battle with the military while leading an attack in Licuan-Baay.<ref name="x-ab1110">{{cite press release |last=Wadagan |first=Diego |date=November 2, 2010 |title=Highest salute and tribute to Procopio "Ka Pyro" Tauro, Revolutionary leader, hero of the masses! |url=https://groups.google.com/g/ab_iloko/c/52i3drzsEv4 |location= |publisher=Ang Bayan Iloko |access-date=January 29, 2026 |via=Google Groups}}</ref>

==In popular culture== Balweg's life as a priest-turned-rebel was the subject of the 1987 biopic ''Balweg: Rebel Priest'', directed by Butch Perez, with Phillip Salvador playing the lead role.<ref name="mn0825" /><ref name="ms104" />

==Notes== {{notelist-ua}}

==References== {{reflist}} {{Communism in the Philippines|collapsed=yes}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balweg, Conrado}} Category:1942 births Category:1999 deaths Category:20th-century Filipino Roman Catholic priests Category:Assassinated Filipino people Category:Filipino communists Category:Northern Luzon during martial law under Ferdinand Marcos Category:People from Abra (province) Category:1999 murders in the Philippines Category:People murdered in the Philippines