From armed struggle to abundant fields: Higaonon Namatidong clan’s new life in peace
By Nora L. Molde
The Higaonon Namatidong clan has returned to their ancestral land in Sitio Ilaw-ilaw, Barangay Lawan-lawan in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, where they now live and earn a living through farming, far from the conflict and violence they once experienced in the mountains.
Today, their days begin with the steady rhythm of farm work, as rows of squash vines spread across fertile land and banana trees line their fields, replacing the life of armed struggle they once knew.
For Datu Lino Namatidong, once known as ‘Kumander Dahon’ of the New People’s Army, returning to their ancestral domain marked the beginning of their true transformation, not as fighters, but as farmers and community builders. Now living peacefully on their land, the clan’s livelihood sustains more than 100 Higaonon families.
From their first squash harvest alone, the clan earned P600,000, enabling them to purchase a canter truck for transport and motorcycles for farm mobility. At the same time, their individual banana plantations continue to generate steady income. Datu Lino and his wife Rina earned P150,000 from their first banana harvest, which they used to build their permanent home. Their produce now reaches markets in Buenavista, Nasipit, and Butuan City, connecting their once-isolated community to local commerce. “Life today is far different from before, free from violence and conflict. I am at peace now with my family and in farming,” Datu Lino said, reflecting on the life they have built through hard work and government support.
Rina, now a TESDA National Certification (NC) holder, has become a community resource person on land preparation and squash farming, sharing her knowledge with other residents, including non-former rebels. Their daughter, Didang, is enrolled as a Senior High School student, representing the next generation’s renewed hope. The clan has also begun expanding its livelihood with a one-hectare ‘siling labuyo’ (chilli pepper) farm starting in 2026 and a growing bamboo plantation for future enterprise. “We chose crops that would help us earn quickly and sustain our needs,” Rina explained. “Now we are seeing the results of our efforts.”
This peaceful life stands in contrast to the decades when some of the clan members were involved in armed struggle away from their homeland. Datu Lino first joined the movement in 1979 after their ancestral lands were encroached upon, believing it was the only way to defend his people. He surrendered in 1994, returned to the mountains in 2006 after facing threats and a lack of support, and endured years of hardship, hunger, and the loss of a son in armed conflict. “I carried that pain for many years and believed justice could only be achieved through war,” he said. “Later, I realized those promises were not true.”
In 2023, weary of conflict and determined to secure a better future, Datu Lino, his family, and other tribe members chose to surrender for good through the government’s whole-of-nation approach and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
Through ECLIP and the provincial government of Agusan del Norte, led by Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante, the clan received P65,000 livelihood assistance each to establish a one-hectare banana plantation, P50,000 capital support for squash production, a bao-bao farm vehicle, and bamboo seedlings. They also underwent training from the Department of Agriculture and TESDA on food processing and value-adding, including squash noodles, banana chips, cassava, and camote chips.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) played a key role in facilitating their reintegration through deradicalization sessions, access to social services, and continuous support under the national peace framework. Governor Amante emphasized that their success reflects the power of sustained government intervention, saying, “Through ECLIP and the convergence of services, we ensure that former rebels are given real opportunities to rebuild their lives and become productive members of their communities.”
After clearing 30 hectares of land and planting eight hectares of squash in early 2025, the Namatidong clan, organized under their association, Mapapasana Malingkawasnong Pagpalambo sa Panginabuhi sa mga Namatidong, has transformed their ancestral land into a thriving agricultural community. What was once a place marked by conflict has become a landscape of opportunity, resilience, and shared prosperity.
Looking across their farms, Datu Lino now carries a message not of war, but of peace: “Choose peace. There is a better life waiting, one that gives your family security, dignity, and a future.” (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
