Army, Samar gov’t step up dialogue with rebels’ kin

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 8, 2024): Army, Samar gov’t step up dialogue with rebels’ kin (By Sarwell Meniano)

PEACE FORUM. Family members of active New People’s Army combatants attend a peace forum organized by the Philippine Army and Samar provincial government during a gathering on March 5, 2024 in Basey, Samar. The military said they are strengthening the Friends Rescued Engagement through their Families program to completely wipe out insurgency in Samar province. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

TACLOBAN CITY – Military and local government officials in Samar will hold more peace forums and dialogue to convince the remaining members of the New People’s Army (NPA) through their families to return to the folds of the law and avail of the benefits offered by the government.

Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. General Noel Vestuir said Friday they are strengthening the Friends Rescued Engagement through their Families (FReE Families) project to completely wipe out insurgency in Samar province.

During the launch on March 5, the army and the local government gathered family members of active NPA members in upland Bacubac village in Basey, Samar, with 29 family members present. Their kin are among the 17 active rebels who are residents of Samar.

Vestuir said they would hold the same dialogue in other areas of Samar province next week.

“The familial influence held by the family and relatives of the remaining active NPA members under the NPA sub-regional committee plays an integral role in our aim to end the armed struggle in Samar through peaceful means,” Vestuir said.

The FReE Families program optimizes the local government’s efforts to link and convince the remaining NPA members through the active participation of the rebels’s families to work for the peaceful surrender of their loved ones and take advantage of the benefits through the Enhanced Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

E-CLIP is a government strategy to convince active rebels to return to the fold of the law by providing financial packages and assistance.

In a statement, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said she is optimistic that “the current efforts through the engaged families will work for the surrender of the remaining rebels who are still in the mountains.”

The governor said the identified families and relatives of NPA members are the principal actors for this program, with the end goal of having the NPA members, our target, leave the armed struggle and join them in living a peaceful life.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220350