A high-ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) surrendered to the Army’s 701st Brigade on March 15.
Cristony Jun “Jong/Franco” Monzon, Secretary-General of Pasakaday Salugpongan Kalimudan (PASAKA) Confederation of Lumad Organizations and Political Instructor of Regional Operation Command, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, returned to the fold of the law due to weakened party leadership, mass bases, and the desire to start his life anew.
In a virtual briefing during his presentation to the media on Tuesday, the prominent former guerilla member said he surrendered to the government as he was concerned about wasting more years fighting against the government for a lost cause.
“I have long been planning to voluntarily surrender. When I did, the operatives welcomed me with open arms and assured me that I don’t have anything to worry about,” he said in vernacular.
Jong, who joined the rebel group for twelve years, said putting up a communist-led government is “too ambitious and impossible to achieve.”
Jong surrendered along with two other former rebels.
RECRUITED FOR VENGEANCE; SURRENDERED FOR PEACE
In his narrative, Jong said he was recruited by the communist rebels way back in 2010. He was a college student who was grieving for the loss of his father. It was instilled in his mind that it was the Army soldiers who killed his father in Boston, Davao Oriental. He said he was promised by the rebels that they will help him avenge the brutal killing of his old man that prompted him to join the insurgent group.
He also cited the series of neutralization of other high profile NPA cadres, false promises of the communist terrorist groups, and their isolation from their family as the reasons for his surrender.
He admitted that he was wrong in believing that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were executioners of people who came from the communist terrorist group (CTG).
“The time I decided to surrender, I really believe that it is the end since we thought that AFP soldiers were executioners and do not give mercy to people like us, but I was wrong. When we surrendered, they never hurt us. They did not even let a mosquito bite us. They talked to us with diplomacy, and that is the reason why I am here now,” Jong said. “I presented myself because I know I’m safe with their care.”
REGRETS AND WASTED YEARS
In the past 12 years of joining the armed struggle, Jong said it was only during his surrender that made him realize that he wasted those years for nothing.
“I regret spending my 12 years with them. I should have spent it with my family. I should have taken care of my family, and I should have been productive. I intend to use this second chance to mend the relationship gap I’ve created with my family,” he said.
He added that he had prior plans to surrender when President Rodrigo Duterte started the crackdown campaign against CPP-NPA-NDF but was told by the communist terrorists that he would be executed by them should he pursue his plan. He was told that there was “no way out” once he joined the rebel group.
Being the Secretary-General of an Indigenous People’s Front, Jong said they used the IP communities as a “finance work” because then can use the tribal people to get financial assistance from the government.
He also mentioned about the Save Our Schools Network and Bakwit Schools which are Lumad schools recognized as legal fronts. According to him, these legal fronts have been the source of funding and recruitment of the underground groups.
Upon his surrender, Jong asked for forgiveness for all the deception they have done for several years, and urged the people to distance themselves from individuals convincing them to join the communist group.
He also admitted that the anti-insurgency efforts of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) are proofs that the government is doing everything to help the poor unlike the ideology instilled in them that the government is not working.
According to Jong, PASAKA, along with the Kamatayan Block, Kabataan, Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Anak-Pawis among other legal fronts were named by CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison as part of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Meanwhile, NTF-ELCAC Under-Secretary Lorraine Badoy said Jong’s surrender has a huge effect on the remaining members of the CPP-NPA-NDF who are still active in the movement. She also asked to be wary on the Party List groups that are posing as legal fronts, but support the New People’s Army. Further, she is hopeful that through Jong’s voluntary surrender, remaining NPA members will be inspired to also return to the folds of the law.
Davao Oriental Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang hopes that Jong will be a testament of hope to all the remaining members of PASAKA and CPP-NPA-NDF that the government is not the enemy.
Brigadier General Oliver C Maquiling., 701st Infantry Kagitingan Brigade Commander, thanked the former Secretary-General for trusting the government in his desire to start anew. He expressed hope that Jong’s surrender will pave the way to the realization of other PASAKA members and other communist-affiliated mass organizations to disassociate themselves from deceitful groups, and be a part of the government’s program in attaining true peace and sustainable development.
THE CASE OF CHAD BOOC
During his surrender, Jong was asked how much he knows about Chad Booc, the volunteer “lumad” teacher killed in an alleged armed encounter in Davao de Oro last February 24.
According to him, Booc was “a member of the communist armed group.”
He mentioned the times they were together in the guerilla camps, solidifying the testaments of other former rebels who identified Booc as an active member of NPA, going by the name of Ka-Tibay.
“I know Chad Booc at Manila Bakwit School, at Lumad School, and at Lakbayan sa Manila. We met at UP Diliman. He was with me on three encounters. He joined the NPA for two months. The NPA made us hold guns. They have a mandate for that,” Monzon said.
Aside from Booc, he also identified Jojarain Alce Nguho III and three others who died on the same encounter as members of the New People’s Army.
He said they were together during Christmas and New Year, and they used to man in the white area operations of the communist movement.
Criticizing the group’s situation after a series of encounters, Monzon said he had talked with Booc, and both of them have tried to ask permission from their commanders to return to their respective homes but were rejected.
Contrary to the claims of the Save Our Schools Network that Booc and others were conducting research works in Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Monzon said he was working with the communist group and he was with them.
To date, the AFP is still investigating the case of Chad Booc as his family denies the allegations that the volunteer “lumad” teacher was a terrorist. By Shaye Dacles
