A small commando traveled through Artemisa territory; they distributed some weapons for the strike on April 9. 12 days were left. It was the year 1958. They were stopped by a patrol car to inspect them: knowing that they could be discovered, they decided to turn the problem into an opportunity.

In an neglect , they managed to surprise the two police men; they disarmed them and get them in the 54 Ford car they drove. They continued along the Central Highway to Mango Dulce, and turned right to reach the outskirts of what is today the small rural settlement of Quebrada del Yuro.

There they made a summary trial, and condemned to death the hit man known as Pedro el manzanillero or Pedro the bad guy. The sentence was executed in the act, and his assistant Candelario Pardo, without shoes and in minor cloths, allowed him to continue on his way.

Three were the members of that command: Eduardo Fuentes Eismendi, Rigoberto Martínez Pérez and Rogelio Payret Silvera, the latter the Head of Action and Sabotage in July 26 Movement in Region 2 in the province of Pinar del Río. That act of execution was only part of the legend that is part of his life and work as a combatant.

Payret was born in Merceditas sugar mill (Sandino), belonging to the then municipality of Cabañas. The father was a worker in the sugar mill , and the mother - teacher Dolores Silvera - another Mariana of the Revolution. He studied first in his hometown and then in San Alejandro Academy, where he began in the revolutionary actions and knew of strikes and police abuse. Back in the area of Cabañas he made several contacts in order to integrate in an organized way to the fight against the dictatorship.

He knows, among others, José Vicente Cubillas, known as Chente, coordinator of the 26 de Julio Movement in the municipality. There was no longer a single day of rest in clandestine and guerrilla activities.

Convinced that there was a need to open a guerrilla front in the province, he made several efforts with the Movement leadership. When Fidel assinged Dermidio Escalona from the Sierra Maestra mountains to create this group in Pinar del Río (officially July 26, 1958), and Payret, who was then Captain Claudio, had long been running a small guerrilla in El Rubí, in the Sierra del Rosario.

Even after the forced stay of Commander Escalona in Havana for having been wounded in combat, when he returned to the guerrilla zone of Vueltabajo, he found the troop of Payret well organized, active and victorious.

That same guerrilla under his command, already as Head of Column 2 Ciro Redondo, was the one who starred on November 16 the attack on two patrol vehicles with microwaves, which in the north circuit guarded the bus in the direction of Bahia Honda: they burned the cars and caused eight casualties to the army, including dead and wounded.

At the end of the year, they also planned the attack on Esteban Pantoja and Jacinto Menocal, squad leaders in Guanajay and San Cristóbal, respectively, an action that was not carried out because that day both assassins did not make the usual route between Jobo, Cayajabos and Artemisa. Unhappy for not fulfilling the plan, they took the streets of the town of Cayajabos, cheered the Revolution, stocked up in the cellars ... and received no response from the enemy.

The first of January of 1959 surprised the guerrilla of Captain Claudius on a long pilgrimage to the north coast, to support a landing of arms. When the escape of the tyrant was ratified, this troop took the camp of the infamous Masferrer, very close to San Diego de Núñez, and seized dozens of weapons. Then they occupied the 64 Squadron of Bahia Honda, and collaborated in the takeover of the Rius Rivera Squadron, in the capital of Pinar del Río.

After the triumph of the Revolution, Payret had important responsibilities in the Rebel Army and the FAR. Due to his high prestige, he was the substitute of Olo Pantoja as Chief of Border Patrol, when he left with Che to Bolivia and the Second Chief of the Interior Ministry mission in the People's Republic of Angola. Colonel Rogelio Payret died on July 9, 2003.

TRANSLATION BY LMMS