KORONADAL CITY -- At least 23 former New People's Army (NPA) rebels coming from four rebel fronts operating in Southwestern Mindanao formally renounced the decades-old communist-led armed struggle and renewed their loyalty to the government.
The former rebels, led by alleged front commander Rolando Gicale of the NPA's Front 73, took their oaths of allegiance to the Philippine Constitution before South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes in simple rites at the provincial capitol here last week.
Lt. Col. Ricardo Santiago, commander of the Army's 27th Infantry Battalion, said the 23 rebel returnees were part of the more than former 40 NPA members from Fronts 72, 73, 74 and 76 who voluntarily surrendered to authorities during the past several months.
He said the four rebel fronts, which are reportedly under the supervision of the NPA's Far South Mindanao Region Command, cover the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Davao del Sur and Cotabato.
Santiago said the 23 returnees, two of whom were women, included six team leaders, a vice team leader, four squad leaders and two political officers.
He said Gicale, who is also known as Commander Alfie, previously headed the NPA's Front 73 that operates in the mountains of South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.
Santiago said most of the returnees personally facilitated their surrender by earlier sending feelers to their families and local army officers.
"These are tired and struggling people. They yearned to leave the mountains for a long time, hoping to lead normal lives with their families," he said.
However, Santiago said the rebel returnees were not able to yield any firearm since they decided to leave them to their former units to stop their former comrades from getting back at them.
Under the government's "Balik Baril" program, returning rebels would be eligible to receive cash assistance equivalent to the value of firearms they have surrendered.
But Santiago said several government agencies and non-government organizations have extended some help to the rebel returnees, especially for their livelihood.
Some of the former rebels are now working at a pineapple plantation contracted by Dole Philippines in Maasim, Saragani and as barangay tanods in their communities.
In fact, he said some of the returnees did not make it to the scheduled oath taking this morning since they could not leave their jobs.
Fuentes personally committed to extend some support to the rebel returnees, especially those who came from her province.
"Their return to the fold of law is part of a process. We will look into this and assess where we can come in and help them through our existing socio-economic programs," the governor said.
Last year, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato launched the Development Alternative Framework or Project DAF, a convergence socio-economic and development initiative focusing on poor and remote communities and areas considered as former rebel strongholds. (Allen V. Estabillo)
