GOOD DECISION. Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol of Asuncion, Davao del Norte delivers a speech during the turnover of the government’s assistance to former communist rebels at the 60th Infantry Battalion camp here on Tuesday (Aug. 6, 2019). Timbol said the decision of the former New People’s Army members will not be wasted as the government continues to provide basic services and to bring development even to the far-flung communities of the country. (OPAPP photo)
ASUNCION, Davao del Norte – Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol said the decision of former New People’s Army (NPA) members to return to the fold of the law will not be wasted as the government continues to bring development even to the far flung areas of the country.
“That’s why we still have to make more roads to open communities towards development and deliver basic services to people. Your decision to go back to the government will never be wasted,” Timbol said in her speech during the turnover of the government’s “immediate assistance packages” to the former rebels at the 60th Infantry Battalion camp here on Tuesday (Aug. 6, 2019).
Timbol said the government “should help our cultural communities, the tribes and the lumad (indigenous peoples).”
“All our efforts will not be wasted. Live a normal life with your family and defend and protect your community,” Timbol said.
She also warned the former rebels “not to be deceived easily by the communist-terrorist groups as they give false promises.”
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, for his part, said former rebels can now live productive life with their respective families.
“We cannot blame you for joining the NPAs. You have experienced the life ‘inside.’ And it was difficult,” Jubahib said.
“You don’t have to be a rebel to be given services from the government. We are here to help you become more productive and that you and your family prosper -- to live in a community where we respect each other and help protect the peace and order,” he added.
Whole-of-nation approach gaining ground
For more than a year, 26-year-old “Crisna” (not her real name) spent many sleepless nights roaming the highlands of Agusan on foot, making sure to stay away from the watchful eyes of the military regiment operating in the area.
She became a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in 2017, working both as a medic and masseur. Her husband passed away the same year.
Crisna was recruited by her cousin “Marben” (not his real name), a 15-year-old NPA cadre from Davao del Norte who assured her that she would be given a monthly allowance of PHP3,200. She readily accepted the offer, hoping to send money to her three children back home.
But after five months, her family stopped receiving the money she was sending them through another NPA member. This became a major cause of concern because her children depended solely on her, leading her to question her decision to join the rebel group.
“Human sa lima ka bulan, nangutana ko didto sa balay kung naa pa ginadawat. Ingon sila, wala na. (On my fifth month [with the organization], I asked my family if they were receiving the money I sent. They said not anymore),” shared Crisna who eventually decided to leave the communist organization after she found out about its real motives.
Marben, whose job was to cook for the rebels, realized that joining the rebels was a huge mistake when he learned that his family was going hungry after he left them.
“Ako ang naga andam og pagkaon sa ila pero ang akong pamilya walay ginakaon maski gamay (I was the one preparing their food but my own family didn’t have anything to eat),” he recalled.
He decided to turn his back on the rebel movement when he discovered that it was not the “real government” it professed to be.
“Nihawa ko sa NPA kay dili sila ang tinood na gobyerno. (I left the NPA because it is not the real government),” he said.
Crisna and Marben are among the 38 CPP-NPA members from Eastern Mindanao who turned themselves in to the 60th Infantry Battalion early this year.
They all received “immediate assistance packages” from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
The activity was spearheaded by the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, provincial government of Davao del Norte, municipal government of Kapalong and the AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command.
Bringing government closer to people
“Gusto namin na iparamdam sa inyo ang tunay na gobyerno. Nagtutulungan lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan para bigyan ng tuldok itongcommunist-rebel activities. (We want you to feel the presence of the real government. All of the agencies of government are working together to put an end to the activities of the communists),” Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, told the former rebels during the turnover ceremony.
Brig. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr., deputy commander of the EastMinCom, said the assistance packages given to the former rebels is a manifestation of the government’s sincerity and commitment to help the former rebels rebuild their lives.
“Now that you are back in the hands of the government, as civilians, you will enjoy the services of government,” said Torres who represented Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. at the event.
“Your decision does not only help you but importantly your family and your respective community,” he added. “Start living the normal life again.”
Last year, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order 70, which institutionalized the whole-of-nation approach, wherein government agencies will work in a holistic and integrated manner to deliver much-needed services to remote and conflict-affected communities.
In particular, the approach will utilize localized peace engagements wherein LGUs and other stakeholders in the community will take the lead in finding solutions to resolve the decades-long communist insurgency in the country.
As an offshoot of the whole-of-Nation approach, the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) was created. It is a mechanism that aims to link regional and sub-regional levels of government to national agencies in order to harmonize peace, development, and security efforts.
As the designated CORDS for Central Luzon, Galvez's role is to oversee peace and development efforts being carried out in the region. Specifically, he convenes and presides over the Regional Task Force-ELCAC 3 composed of the Regional Peace and Order and Regional Development Councils.
“One of the key features of the EO 70 is what we call localized peace engagements,” Galvez explained during a recent CORDS meeting in Maguindanao.
“This means that local government units and members of the community will be the ones to provide recommendations on how to best address the rebellion in their communities,” he explained.
“If these community-driven peace dialogues move forward and bear positive results, members of the rebel group have the option to enter into local peace agreements with LGUs and avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP),” Galvez said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1077352
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