Twenty-five former rebels (FRs) of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Oriental were brought to a mall and tourists spots as they undergo a 22-day deradicalization program, a Philippine Army official said on Monday.
The program, aimed at helping the FRs transition back into civilian life, is being conducted by the 302nd Brigade, according to its commander, Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas.
“This program is part of their reintegration into society and will help them in various aspects of living a normal life, different from the hardships they endured while in the movement,” Escanillas told the Philippine News Agency.
As part of the program, the FRs are attending lectures on topics about resource management, health and well-being, spiritual formation, livelihood and skills training, and available government programs.
In addition, they were taken on a familiarization tour to a shopping mall in this capital city.
“Some of them may not have seen a mall, experienced riding the escalator or even visited a big city,” Escanillas said.
The program included visits to local tourist spots and government projects aimed at alleviating poverty.
This marks the first deradicalization program of its kind in the Visayas, with Escanillas highlighting the significance of these exposures to help the former rebels adapt to normal life more easily.
“They have to be convinced of the government’s sincerity to help them start their lives all over again. Otherwise, there is a tendency that they will return to the mountains and rejoin the NPA,” he said.
The 25 former rebels, all from Negros Oriental, surrendered to various Army units over the past few months.
They are currently awaiting the release of their benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
While waiting for their E-CLIP assistance, the FRs have been provided with livelihood support from the Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office, which includes 25 turkeys and 25 native chickens.
The live-in deradicalization seminar, funded by the provincial government, started Nov. 22 and will end Dec. 14 at the halfway house at the brigade’s headquarters in Camp Leon Kilat.
Escanillas said some of the FRs will return to the Army battalions where they are currently staying, while others will go home while waiting for the E-CLIP assistance.
Additionally, some of the former rebels qualified for a socialized housing project in Basay town, where they will be given individual and communal land titles by the Department of Agrarian Reform. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
