I EARNESTLY regret my participation in the so-called anti-infiltration campaigns of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). That I was not part of the decision-making process and that I was merely an operative in the casing and arrest of some of the suspects do not lighten the burden that I carry.

It is not easy to speak of closure, even as the CPP has condemned the aberration, accepted its responsibility, punished the culpable, made steps to draw lessons from the bitter experience, and hailed the victims as “martyrs of the revolution.”

These are all fine, but these must be pursued until all ground is covered. And efforts must be exerted to let the people know about it all, lest some anti-CPP quarters declare that the party had swept the issue under the rug.

I have, on many occasions, openly suggested to some of the party’s responsible cadres that a body be formed to pursue its declarations and decisions regarding the anti-infiltration campaigns. True, the initial steps to reach out to the victims and their families have been made.

In some regions, the CPP, in fact, endeavored to honor the victims in unprecedented ways. Due, however, to pressing tasks that daily preoccupy the party, these efforts have not been pursued on a continuing basis.

Without a body to take care of the need for continuity, identifying and honoring the victims, and reaching out to their families, seeking redress of grievances and finally putting a closure to each case will never be accomplished.

And organizations such as the PATH (Peace Advocates for Truth, Justice and Healing), the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency of the United States) and the Dutch intelligence will always find the anti-infiltration campaigns a convenient theme against the party.

I personally seek closure for the victims who had suffered because I assisted in their arrest, and for the rest of the victims who were put in similar or worse conditions.

I seek closure for my own peace of mind. But such a closure will only happen if my suggestion for the party to form a body to address the issue is done.

I am more than willing to be a part of this body and make it my task in the revolution.

The thought of closure reminds me of Ka Godot. He was a leading CPP cadre in Manila-Rizal, and he was pinpointed as the senior officer in the network of “deep-penetration agents” operating in the party organization in the region.

I set him up for the Olympia-ABB (Alex Boncayao Brigade) team.
After an elaborate operation, he was arrested. His interrogators tortured and detained him for months.

When he was finally released, a meeting was arranged for us. I asked for his forgiveness and he easily gave it to me. When we shook hands, I was ready to cry.

I stood as “ninong” (godfather) to Ka Godot’s child, who was born after the anti-infiltration hysteria.

Ka Godot has since returned to the movement, first above ground, and now as a full-time guerrilla in the countryside.