"[1][2][3][4] Bernal led a group of pistoleros who operated along the mining zones of the Sierra Madre Occidental, dominating parts of Sinaloa and Durango.

During Bernal's ten year stint as a bandit and as a political rebel, he managed to evade capture repeatedly due to his established good relations with the lower class and important people of the region he operated within.

[1] In 1887 Bernal entered the role of a political rebel, creating a platform which called for a return to the 1857 Constitution of Mexico, which had barred repeated re-elections of the same candidate.

The move to enact such a policy was past its time, as many of those who would have backed Bernal now preferred to have Díaz repeatedly re-elected to maintain control.

[citation needed] Over thirty corridos or folk ballads exist placing Bernal in the role of a hero and promoting his exploits.