An NPA surrenderee, who together with Saddam returned to the folds of the law in Davao del Norte.
DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA)—Saddam. Sounds like a husky man but he is a 17-year old boy who recently returned to the mainstream society having been with the New People’s Army (NPA) for about six months.
In a brief conversation with Saddam at the provincial office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Davao del Norte, Saddam told Philippine Information Agency XI that he is currently enrolled as Grade 9 at Sto Nino High School in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
He was one of the nine former rebels who received P65,000 cash assistance from DILG through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Saddam confided of having gone with the rebel group, duped with lies about the government which according to the NPA, “is just taking advantage of the Indigenous Peoples”.
Armed by the NPA with M16 long rifle issued to him without prior training and orientation on how to use it, he was told by NPA comrades that he would be killed by government authorities when caught.
“Wala man. (Not true.),” he said when asked if his life was threatened by government authorities.
To the contrary, he is sent to school by the 56th Infantry Battalion, which shoulders his schooling expenses and provides him food, clothing, daily allowance and living space to rest.
“Actually parang adopted na namin si Saddam,” 56th IB civil military operations officer (CMO), Capt John Louie Dema-ala said.
His current situation was a reverse to his life with the NPA which he described as “Lisod, walay kaon (difficult, no food to eat.).”
Saddam's stint with the NPAs was a loss to his mother who, he said, was not aware where he was at that time when the NPA was tagging him along.
“Ninghilak si Mama. (Mama cried),” when asked about the reaction of his mother upon finding him, having been rescued by the Philippine Army from the hands of the NPA.
Saddam is determined to finish his schooling and dreams of becoming a soldier someday while the rest of his E-CLIP co-beneficiaries intend to make use of the skills provided them by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through a skills training organized by the 56th IB of the Philippine Army.
Lt. Col. Norman Valdez, 56th IB commander said the latest batch of mainstreamed male former rebels had gone through livelihood trainings on masonry, carpentry, wielding, while the women were engaged in bead-craft with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Valdez attributed the continued outflow of armed NPA members to the Philippine local and national governments, to hunger and hardship in life they had experienced in the underground movement.
“Ang buhay nila doon sa kilusan, naranasan nila gaano ka hirap at gutom. Hirap na pamumuhay plus ang continuous combat operations. (They experienced hunger and hardship in life with the movement, plus the continuous combat operations.),” he said.
The visible service delivery of the government through Community Support Program (CSP) and other peace and development program such as at the Oplan TABANG rolled out in partnership with local government units (LGUs) and national line agencies in conflict-affected areas are also crucial to bringing them back to the government, he said.
Meanwhile, Valdez renewed his call for the rest of those still with the NPAs to turn back against the rebel movement for the sake of bringing peace and development in the Ata-Manobo indigenous communities of Talaingod.
On the other hand, Valdez noted the crucial importance of access roads to far-flung and hinterland Talaingod communities which need to be accessed.
“If may daan makakapag deliver na tayo ng serbisyo.(if there are roads, we can deliver services)” he said. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)
DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA)—Saddam. Sounds like a husky man but he is a 17-year old boy who recently returned to the mainstream society having been with the New People’s Army (NPA) for about six months.
In a brief conversation with Saddam at the provincial office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Davao del Norte, Saddam told Philippine Information Agency XI that he is currently enrolled as Grade 9 at Sto Nino High School in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
He was one of the nine former rebels who received P65,000 cash assistance from DILG through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Saddam confided of having gone with the rebel group, duped with lies about the government which according to the NPA, “is just taking advantage of the Indigenous Peoples”.
Armed by the NPA with M16 long rifle issued to him without prior training and orientation on how to use it, he was told by NPA comrades that he would be killed by government authorities when caught.
“Wala man. (Not true.),” he said when asked if his life was threatened by government authorities.
To the contrary, he is sent to school by the 56th Infantry Battalion, which shoulders his schooling expenses and provides him food, clothing, daily allowance and living space to rest.
“Actually parang adopted na namin si Saddam,” 56th IB civil military operations officer (CMO), Capt John Louie Dema-ala said.
His current situation was a reverse to his life with the NPA which he described as “Lisod, walay kaon (difficult, no food to eat.).”
Saddam's stint with the NPAs was a loss to his mother who, he said, was not aware where he was at that time when the NPA was tagging him along.
“Ninghilak si Mama. (Mama cried),” when asked about the reaction of his mother upon finding him, having been rescued by the Philippine Army from the hands of the NPA.
Saddam is determined to finish his schooling and dreams of becoming a soldier someday while the rest of his E-CLIP co-beneficiaries intend to make use of the skills provided them by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through a skills training organized by the 56th IB of the Philippine Army.
Lt. Col. Norman Valdez, 56th IB commander said the latest batch of mainstreamed male former rebels had gone through livelihood trainings on masonry, carpentry, wielding, while the women were engaged in bead-craft with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Valdez attributed the continued outflow of armed NPA members to the Philippine local and national governments, to hunger and hardship in life they had experienced in the underground movement.
“Ang buhay nila doon sa kilusan, naranasan nila gaano ka hirap at gutom. Hirap na pamumuhay plus ang continuous combat operations. (They experienced hunger and hardship in life with the movement, plus the continuous combat operations.),” he said.
The visible service delivery of the government through Community Support Program (CSP) and other peace and development program such as at the Oplan TABANG rolled out in partnership with local government units (LGUs) and national line agencies in conflict-affected areas are also crucial to bringing them back to the government, he said.
Meanwhile, Valdez renewed his call for the rest of those still with the NPAs to turn back against the rebel movement for the sake of bringing peace and development in the Ata-Manobo indigenous communities of Talaingod.
On the other hand, Valdez noted the crucial importance of access roads to far-flung and hinterland Talaingod communities which need to be accessed.
“If may daan makakapag deliver na tayo ng serbisyo.(if there are roads, we can deliver services)” he said. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)
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