Happy Home welcomes new batch of former rebels

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 28): Happy Home welcomes new batch of former rebels

The Happy Home (Half Way House and Processing Center) opens its doors for the new batch of Former Rebels (FR’s) who surrendered to the 701st “Kagitingan” Brigade that will benefit the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP)in partnership with the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental earlier today.

No less that the Brigade Commander of the 701st Brigade, Colonel Bienvenido R. Datuin accompanied nine (9) former rebels (FR) from the Brigade Headquarters going to the Happy Home as part of their first step in benefiting the CLIP and they were warmly welcomed by Evelyn A. Vallar, Head of the Happy Home together with her staff and other FR’s availing the TESDA livelihood training at the said facility.

The FR’s were first briefed of the house rules being implemented at the Happy Home then they were discussed of the services and procedures they will undertake such as health services, legal assistance, enrollment to PhilHealth, initial assistance worth fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000), registration to Government ID’s, skills training, healing and reconciliation activities, educational services such as the Alternative Learning System (ALS), Lakbay-aral, livelihood training to be followed by receiving the livelihood assistance worth fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) lastly their discharge at the Happy Home.

“Since the Happy Home started its operations, this is the first time that FRs are being assisted personally by the Brigade Commander”. “This shows the sincerity and care of the Philippine Army to our FR’s and this inspires us to perform our task to the fullest”. “You are always welcome here, the Happy Home is always open to serve you and we assure you that you are going to avail all available services the Happy Home has to offer ” Vallar said referring to the FR’s

 Col Datuin during his speech saying “We wanted you FR’s feel that we are really concern with your well being as much as we wanted to achieve just and lasting peace in Davao Oriental”. “We hope that your stay at the Happy Home will change your life and give you hope to have a fruitful life, we know that your stay with the New People’s Army is hard and it brought trauma to you and this is your chance to erase it all, move on and be advocates of peace”.

One of the FR’s during his interview said “I never taught that in spite us being FR’s be given such accommodation and warmth welcome such as this, before when we were still with the NPA we were told that the CLIP is just a propaganda but now seeing and experiencing it we will be advocates of this program and encourage more NPA to surrender”. The FR’s saying in mandaya language.

 The FR’s will be staying at the Happy Home after they finished their processing and until such time that they are ready to go back to the community where they belong. (4th Civil Military Operations Company, PA, AFP)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1591446019236/happy-home-welcomes-new-batch-of-former-rebels