A TOTAL of 17 former high-ranking New People's Army (NPA) leaders and members of Communist Party of the Philippines completed the Primerong Kurso sa Pagbag-ong Kinabuhi Level 3 (PKPK-3) Class 1-2020 at Camp Osito Bahian, Malaybalay City.
Six of the former rebels are from Misamis Oriental, while the remaining 11 are from Bukidnon.
Resylyn Pardo, alias Jamby, Guerilla Front 6 (GF6) secretary from South Bukidnon, was among those who completed the course. The group is composed of political instructors, squad leaders, platoon medic, and commanding officer of Front Operational Command.
The PKPK-3 is the first part of mainstreaming process for former rebels.
The rebels will then be enrolled in Halfway Houses managed by provincial and highly urbanized cities where they will undergo further training and capacity building before they will receive the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).
"We believe on the kindness of their hearts before they were radicalized by the Communist Party of the Philippines through New People's Army," said Captain Ryan Layug, course director of PKPK3 and former spokesman of 403rd Brigade in Bukidnon.
"Their innocence was abused. They were made to believe that bearing arms and fighting the government is the way to achieve their means," Layug added.
PKPK-3 started on February 5 and ended February 22. During the 17-day course, the participants and couples were also made to experience driving farm tractor as they are introduced to high value crop production.