TEMPORARY SHELTER. A halfway house in Masbate province shelters 17 former rebels and their families. Halfway houses serve as temporary shelters for surrendered rebels as they undergo reintegration to the mainstream society and also as venue for livelihood and skills trainings provided to them by the government. (Photo courtesy of 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army)
Despite the danger caused by the coronavirus diseases (Covid-19) pandemic, halfway house projects for former rebels continue in Bicol Region, the 9th Infantry Division (9ID) of the Philippine Army said Monday.
Army Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9ID spokesperson, said with the ongoing construction of halfway houses in Camarines Norte and Sorsogon, the government is more than ready to accommodate the growing number of communist terrorist group (CTG) members who are returning to the fold of the law.
“In Camarines Norte, the construction of the said facility which started in October 2019 is already 90 percent, while in Masbate province, halfway house is already operational. The same facility will be constructed in Juban town in Sorsogon province,” Belleza said in an interview.
Halfway houses, he said, serve as temporary shelters for former rebels (FRs) as they undergo reintegration to the mainstream society and also serve as venue for livelihood and skills trainings provided for FRs.
Belleza said a former rebel who temporarily resides in the Masbate halfway house along with 17 other FRs and their families, narrated how his life changed when he abandoned the CTG.
“According to alias Raymart, the fear of being killed by soldiers while hiding in the mountains and the loneliness of being away from their families are enough reasons to make the life inside the armed movement unbearable,” the Army official said.
"Naisip ko na malayo na ako sa panganib dahil sa maganda at maayos ang pakikitungo sa amin ng mga sangay ng ating gobyerno. (I’m away from danger because of the well and good treatment of the government to us)," he quoted "Raymart" as saying.
The former rebel said he realized that there is a good life and bright future that is awaiting him and his family.
“Napagtanto kong may mas mapayapa at magaan palang pamumuhay na naghihintay sa akin na ganito napapa-improve pa ang kaalaman dahil sa mga binigay na mga training tungkol sa hanapbuhay na pinagpawisan namin tulad ng sa Technical Education Skills Development Authority (A peaceful and happier life waits for me and I was able to improve my knowledge because of livelihood trainings given by TESDA),” said "Raymart".
Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) chief Maj. Gen. Henry Robinson Jr. said rural developments experienced in the countryside are attributed to the earnestness of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) to fast-track the delivery of efficient services to the public.
“Ang gobyerno ay hindi tulad ng CTG na mapanlinlang. Itong mga proyektong ito ay patunay lamang kung gaano tayo kaseryoso na tulungan ang mga dating myembro ng CTG na makapagbagong buhay. (Our government does not deceive like the CTG. These projects are a manifestation of how sincere our government is in helping the former rebels). We know that some of them are hesitant to surrender because they fear for their lives. Halfway houses are also built to ensure their safety,” Robinson said in a statement.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1110158
Army Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9ID spokesperson, said with the ongoing construction of halfway houses in Camarines Norte and Sorsogon, the government is more than ready to accommodate the growing number of communist terrorist group (CTG) members who are returning to the fold of the law.
“In Camarines Norte, the construction of the said facility which started in October 2019 is already 90 percent, while in Masbate province, halfway house is already operational. The same facility will be constructed in Juban town in Sorsogon province,” Belleza said in an interview.
Halfway houses, he said, serve as temporary shelters for former rebels (FRs) as they undergo reintegration to the mainstream society and also serve as venue for livelihood and skills trainings provided for FRs.
Belleza said a former rebel who temporarily resides in the Masbate halfway house along with 17 other FRs and their families, narrated how his life changed when he abandoned the CTG.
“According to alias Raymart, the fear of being killed by soldiers while hiding in the mountains and the loneliness of being away from their families are enough reasons to make the life inside the armed movement unbearable,” the Army official said.
"Naisip ko na malayo na ako sa panganib dahil sa maganda at maayos ang pakikitungo sa amin ng mga sangay ng ating gobyerno. (I’m away from danger because of the well and good treatment of the government to us)," he quoted "Raymart" as saying.
The former rebel said he realized that there is a good life and bright future that is awaiting him and his family.
“Napagtanto kong may mas mapayapa at magaan palang pamumuhay na naghihintay sa akin na ganito napapa-improve pa ang kaalaman dahil sa mga binigay na mga training tungkol sa hanapbuhay na pinagpawisan namin tulad ng sa Technical Education Skills Development Authority (A peaceful and happier life waits for me and I was able to improve my knowledge because of livelihood trainings given by TESDA),” said "Raymart".
Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) chief Maj. Gen. Henry Robinson Jr. said rural developments experienced in the countryside are attributed to the earnestness of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) to fast-track the delivery of efficient services to the public.
“Ang gobyerno ay hindi tulad ng CTG na mapanlinlang. Itong mga proyektong ito ay patunay lamang kung gaano tayo kaseryoso na tulungan ang mga dating myembro ng CTG na makapagbagong buhay. (Our government does not deceive like the CTG. These projects are a manifestation of how sincere our government is in helping the former rebels). We know that some of them are hesitant to surrender because they fear for their lives. Halfway houses are also built to ensure their safety,” Robinson said in a statement.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1110158
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