FORMER Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organization secretary-general Christony "Jong" Monzon said on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, that Chad Booc, Jojarain Alce Nguho II, and three others were members of the New People's Army (NPA) and died in an encounter with the military on February 24.
"Kilala ko si Chad Booc sa Manila Bakwit School, sa Lumad school, sa Lakbayan sa Manila. Nagkita kami sa UP (University of the Philippines) Diliman. Si Chad Booc, kasama ko siya sa tatlong encounter. Two months na siyang sumama dun sa New People's Army. NPA kasi ang ginagawa doon papahawakin ka talaga ng baril. May mandate sa iyo na papahawakin ka ng baril," Monzon said.
(I knew Chad Booc at Manila Bakwit School, at the Lumad school, at Lakbayan in Manila. We met at UP Diliman. Chad Booc was with me on three encounters. He joined the New People's Army for two months. Because what the NPA is doing there will really make you hold a gun. You have a mandate to hold a gun.)
During the press conference in Mati City after his surrender, Monzon recalled that Booc and Nguho joined them in the armed struggle on December 23, 2021.
"Dun sila pumasok between the perimeter ng Mainit Falls ng Davao de Oro at saka ng Panoraon. Pero before sila pumasok doon ay galing pa sila ng Davao City," Monzon said.
(They entered between the perimeter of Mainit Falls of Davao de Oro and then of Panoraon. But before they entered there, they were from Davao City.)
He said they were together during Christmas and New Year, and as comrades in the white area operations of the communist movement, they talked and even criticize their group regarding their situation.
"Sabi nila ay safety, i-safety ka. Pero nung nandun na kami, mag-uusap kami (ni Chad), hindi naman ito iyong safety na sinasabi eh. Akala naming safety ay para sa security. Iba na pala," he said.
(They said safety, they will keep you safe. But when we're there, Chad and I will talk. This is not the safety we wanted. We thought safety was for security. It didn't turn out as we had hoped.)
Petrified during encounters, Monzon said they, including Chad, asked permission from their commanders to return to their respective homes but were rejected.
"Kahit anong gawin namin. Sabihin naming na uuwi na kami. Hindi nila, iyong mga leaders kumbaga, wala kami gitugtan ba (We were not given permission). Hindi nila kami pinayagan na bumaba kahit na sabi namin na 'kahit anong mga kaso haharapin namin.' Pero hindi kami pinababa."
(Whatever we do. Let's say we're going home. They, your leaders, did not allow us (We were not given permission). They didn't let us down even though we said 'whatever cases we will face.' But they didn't let us down.)
He also belied claims of the Save Our Schools Network that Booc and others were conducting research works in Barangay Andap, New Bataan.
"Iyong sinasabi na may research na nangyari dun sa Andap, wala sir, e. Walang research na nangyari kasi kasama ko sila," Monzon said.
(They said that there was research that happened in Andap, nothing sir. No research happened because they were with me.)
As a ranking official of the legal front of the communist movement, Monzon said he was included in the meeting with Eric Jun Casilao alias Ka Elian, who now leads the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee.
"Narinig ko sa meeting na sabi pa ni Ka Elian. Kasi siya iyong nandun sa Regional Committee. Sabi niya, iyan 'yong ipalabas ninyo sa Urban Committee na nagresearch sila. Pero sila talaga iyong may salarin eh," he said.
Monzon said Booc, Nguho and others were detached from their group because they were tasked to get supplies.
"Initusan sila ng kumander namin na magkuha ng supply. Sa maalala ko lang noong pag-detach, eh kahit ayaw ng mga kasamahan ko na idetach, sila Chad Booc. Kasi hindi mo maiiwasan pag may military operations, talagang may encounter na mangyayari. But ilang araw nalaman din naming na namatay na si Chad Booc," he said.
(Our commander ordered them to get supplies. As far as I can remember when I was detached, even though my colleagues didn't want to be detached, Chad Booc. Because you can't avoid when there are military operations, there will definitely be an encounter. But a few days later, we also found out that Chad Booc had died.)
Through his relatives, Monzon surrendered to authorities in Mati City on March 15, 2022. (PR)