Kalinaw News: Ex-rebels and People’s Organization in Aurora gathered for 3-days peace orientation towards transformation

From Kalinaw News (Jun 27, 2022): Ex-rebels and People’s Organization in Aurora gathered for 3-days peace orientation towards transformation

BALER, Aurora-TWO HUNDRED FIFTY former members of the communist terrorist group (CTG) and People’s Organization have undergone a three-day peace orientation towards a transformation program at Sinagtala Gym, 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion, Philippine Army from June 22 to 24, 2022.

Of the said numbers 28 were former NPA rebels and 222 members of seven People’s organization in the whole province of Aurora organized by Sinagtala troopers.

Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto, Jr., acting commanding officer of 91st IB said on Saturday in an interview that the orientation was through the efforts of Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), 703rd Agila Brigade and the 91st IB.

“We are doing this activity to help our invited participants in their transformation into peaceful and productive civilians. We invited our stakeholders and concerned agencies to sustain the gains of peace and to fulfill our obligations to be united, moreso, to further strengthen our camaraderie and to be able discuss pressing issues and mutually find solutions to address these concerns,” Recto said.

He added that the purpose is to ensure peace and security, trust and confidence between government forces, former rebels and PO’s in ensuring their safety and the communities.

“It will create opportunities for greater collaboration with them to learn about the services and programs of different agencies and will answers their queries and issues and concerns towards the attainment of lasting peace, harmony, unity and reconciliation,” Recto said.

He furthered that the activity is in full support to the Duterte’s administration intensifies efforts to end the communist insurgency in the country through the implementation of “Whole-of-Nation” Approach wherein national line agencies and its attached agencies, local government units and civil society groups are closely working together to bring sustainable peace and development in conflict-ridden areas.

Colonel Allan Jose L. Taguba, deputy group commander of 703rd Agila brigade leave a biblical verse to the participants-Ecclesiastes chapter 3:1-8 which states there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Taguba in his speech leave the said verse so that the participants can meditate and for them to have a quiet time with God that would bring a peaceful and stable order to the group who came from the eight towns of this province.

The 3-day Peace Orientation Towards Transformation Program signifies the official withdrawal of support to the CTG.

Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Aurora OIC-Provincial Director, Ener P. Cambronero said that one of their flagship programs are the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) wherein he encouraged the FRs to be productive members of the community and be involved in government community-support programs.

He furthered that E-CLIP being locally-driven, managed and implemented is a national program that veers away from the past practice of pre-packaged interventions designed at the national level. It responds to the circumstances, needs and concerns of former rebels through provision of assistance and seeks to consider their basic rights and situations as men and women.

The E-CLIP provides a wide range of benefits which includes Reintegration Assistance; Fire Arms Remuneration (Double-the-cost valuation); Livelihood Materials and Implements or Employment Assistance; Housing; Medical Assistance; Legal Assistance; and College Tuition and Stipend (tertiary level), among others.

PD Cambronero also had a table conversation with Lt. Col. Recto along with the Provincial Director of DOLE and members of the local media which revolved on crafting plans and interventions to further strengthen the E-CLIP committee in the Province, discussion of programs that are geared to intensify the campaign to prevent terrorism and violent extremism, and improve the public safety and order in the province and the country as a whole.

Lecturers in the 3-day activity (day 1) were OPAPRU Army retired Brigadier General Abraham Claro Casis (keynote speaker/topic-De-radicalization of the FRs and POs: Localized Peace Engagement towards a Transformation Program, Culture of Peace, Gender and Development and Peace Exercise Activity); National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Regional director Maria Luisa F. de Guzman (Topic: E.O.70);

On day 2- Church of Christ Pastor Samson A. Serdena (Developing Relationship with GOD); services and livelihood programs of Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) thru Alexander P. Rotas (Cooperative development programs); Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Juan F. Millar Jr. (Livelihood programs of PCA for the FRs and POs); Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA Senior PCDA specialist) Jerome H. Lopez (the skills training programs to the FRs and POs); Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-Aurora) provincial Fishery officer Jay A. Dela Cruz (discussed the Livelihood Program of BFAR for FRs and POs); Department of Agriculture (DA) senior agriculturist Danilo S. Esguerra (Livelihood Programs of DA for FRs and POs); Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) project development officer II Sherwin T Verdadero (Livelihood Programs of DSWD for FRs and POs);

Last Day, Department of Trade Industry (DTI) Trade and Industry development specialist Bryan Omar D. Sardea, (Livelihood Programs of DTI for FRs and POs); Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Aurora provincial director Ener P. Cambronero (Localized Peace and Engagement (LPE) and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP); and Department of Labor and Employment Aurora chief Antonio M. Sicat Jr., (Livelihood Programs of DTI and Job opportunity for FRs and POs).

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