Wednesday, September 18, 2024

OPAPRU bolsters localized peace efforts in Caraga; former rebels unfold transformation stories

By Remil Vincent E. Lagumbay

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) - To further enhance the nation’s efforts against insurgency, Program Development Operations Officer V of the Local Conflict Transformation – Field Implementation Support Unit (LCT-FISU) Oliver M. Binancilan, introduced two former rebels who shared their personal transitions from insurgent life to civilian roles in a media orientation on Localized Peace Engagement and its Transformation Program (LPE-TP) by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity’s (OPAPRU) in collaboration with Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on September 5-6 in Butuan City.

Rosel, a non-combatant FR who surrendered to the authorities last January 5, 2022, disclosed the intense struggles and severe hardships she experienced during her time as an affiliate of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

“Since the implementation of the Executive Order No. 70, rally activities were halted in 2019. We were dismantled and lurked around the city or what we call the ‘white area’ because we no longer received any assistance or support from the party, even if there’s any that came, it’s still not efficient for us to survive,” Rosel said.

“When we arrived at the halfway house in Barangay Bancasi, I immediately felt the changes, we were rained down with assistance and training. Thank you to the provincial government of Agusan del Norte through the leadership of Gov. Amante. With their programs, I was transformed spiritually and realized the huge difference between my life in the movement compared to my current life here,” she added.

Rosel shared further how the workshops from the localized transformation program played a pivotal role in reshaping her perspective and motivating her to channel her revolutionary expertise into aiding the government’s anti-insurgency efforts.

On the other hand, Rodelyn, 28, joined the rebellion in 2019, spoke out about how the communists’ influenced and recruited her entire family from her parents to her younger siblings. She expressed her gratitude to the government and its agencies with their programs that helped her and her family return to civic life.

“We were one of the families that were persuaded by their false doctrines, my mother was the first to join the revolution, followed by my father, then my siblings and me. I made the decision to surrender when I got assigned in Cabadbaran City because it was near my barrio. I wanted to reunite with my family because I really missed them,” said Rodelyn.

“It was an emotional moment for us during the reintegration process and we thank God for the government through the 29^th Infantry Battalion, for prioritizing and giving us a second chance despite our past offenses and mistakes. The assistance through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), livelihood assistance and the housing program have helped my family and other former rebels shift back into the peaceful and normal way of life,” she added.

She also shared that the training from the localized transformation program changed her outlook and inspired her to join the government's anti-insurgency efforts. She is now applying her military knowledge as a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) of the AFP, re-purposing her skills to support national security and peacebuilding initiatives.

Moreover, Binancilan reported that there is a significant shift in the ongoing conflict as a notable number of communist terrorist group (CTG) members have surrendered to authorities. He emphasized that the magnitude of the situation has now surpassed the military’s mandate and capacity to support former rebels.

“Maliit nalang ang military operations targeting all remnants of the NPA sa ating rehiyon, we are in the post-conflict situation or landscape that is why we have the transformation program, following the whole-of-the-nation approach under the EO 70, we worked under the spirit of convergence enjoining all the government agencies to provide assistance to the former rebels,” Binancilan said.

“Nandito na sila sa atin, nag surrender na sila. Tayo po ang nag-enganyo sa kanila na mag surrender, tayo na rin ang magbigay at mag-sustento sa kanila hanggang umabot sila sa institutionalization and sustainability phase na pwede na po natin silang iwanan,” he added. (RVEL/PIA-Caraga)