Manifesting Christian love
We just hope and pray that the surrender of the 17 communist rebels would serve as an eye-opener, and serve as an inspiration to other rebels that there is still hope in correcting their lives and enjoying their time with their respective families at their homes.
I am teary-eyed while writing this, because of the act of the government that manifested Christian love as former rebels returned to the government fold, pledged allegiance to the Philippine flag, and denounced their former alliances.
Recently, 17 former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines — New People's Army were accepted back by the legitimate government of the Republic of the Philippines through the efforts of the Philippine National Police, particularly the National Capital Region Police Office under the strong leadership of Brig. Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo.
In a simple ceremony held at the Tagapaglunsad Hall, NCRPO Regional Mobile Force Battalion at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, the 17 surrenderers were welcomed by Brig. Gen. Estomo represented by his Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Brig. Gen. Jose S. Hidalgo Jr. and RMFB commander, Col. Jonathan G. Calixto.
The rebel returnees shall undergo a two-day "Tulong Pangkabuhayan Program" — a community-based capacity-building program initiated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development that seeks to improve the socio-economic status of the former rebels. This also aims to develop and enhance their skills so they can start a new life without violence.
Such achievement of the PNP NCRPO is in line with the invigorated efforts to support Executive Order 70 which created the National Task Force to End Local Communist and Armed Conflict with the end view of attaining sustainable peace and development by reintegrating former rebels into the mainstream of society.
The rebel returnees are beneficiaries of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or ECLIP which aims to help the rebel members of CPP-NPA-NDF and Militia ng Bayan to restore their allegiance to the Philippine government.
Then President Rodrigo Duterte signed Administrative Order 10 institutionalizing the ECLIP for rebel returnees to be reintegrated back into the community, be with their families, and start over with their new, normal lives.
It was quite an eye-opener when, during the event, a certain alias Danmer shared his story and experiences as a former rebel and living proof that the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) is recruiting and enlisting students to join the leftist organization through their legal fronts.