The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) publicly exposed the modus of fake and forced surrender of the National Task Force-Elcac and its paid agent Richard “Justin” Chiong in the ranks of poor communities. According to the group, Chiong is now acting as the agency’s active “instrument of oppression” and a “traitor to Kadamay and the entire urban poor mass movement” in exchange for cash and personal interest.

According to the group, Chiong betrayed his comrades whom he had long united with in struggles, exposed their names, and endangered their security. “With his lead, forced and deceptive surrender is being used as a tactic to intimidate and silence the urban poor who are fighting for their rights,” it said.

The usual modus of Chiong and the NTF-Elcac is to show targeted individuals or families a “watchlist” which includes their names, according to the group. Chiong then promises delisting them in exchange for their surrender and “return to the fold” of the government. “Refusals resulted in more intense intimidation and threats, including the possibility of arrest,” Kadamay stated.

This tactic is similar to Kadamay members’ ordeal in Sityo San Roque, Barangay Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City in 2021. Kadamay recorded seven Kadamay-San Roque members illegally listed as surrenderees. “In their attempt to challenge (the list), they were told that they would remain red-tagged unless they formally surrender,” Kadamay said.

Kadamay explained that the NTF-Elcac’s so-called “watchlist” is not only an instrument of illegal arrest, but a blatant suppression of the urban poor’s legitimate struggle. The group insisted that organizing, joining mass organizations, and participating in protest actions are part of the democratic rights of citizens and any attempt to force the urban poor to abandon their fight is a direct violation of their rights.

Facing this, Kadamay encouraged everyone to immediately inform their group when Chiong, NTF-Elcac elements, and the military does any attempt to contact them.

In recent years, the NTF-Elcac has been recorded to force the surrender of urban poor and urban poor leaders nationwide. Kadamay has also recorded the forced surrender of several individuals portrayed as members of Kadamay, even though they were not, and as fighters of the New People’s Army.

In April 2021, the military forced the surrender of hundreds who they falsely claimed as Kadamay members and Red fighters in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Kadamay called this “double-fake surrenderees” at the time because they were neither Kadamay members nor NPA armed fighters.

“They were not Kadamay. They neither seemed NPA. Were they armed? The surrenders were all fake, there was no evidence beyond accusations. Worse, those enticed to surrender were offered aid. They capitalized on the people’s hunger for their ‘publicity stunt,'” Kadamay secretary general and now Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Mimi Doringo said.