Ex-Rebel takes on role as peace advocate

He once led fighters in the mountains, surviving 36 military encounters and rising to top leadership in the communist movement. Today, Noel Legaspi is on a different mission—guiding thousands of former rebels toward peace and stability as head of a nationwide federation.

Legaspi, who spent nearly half his life with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, left the movement in 2018 after 26 years of involvement. Now president of Buklod Kapayapaan Federation Inc. (BKFI), he leads an organization with 17 regional branches working to help peers rebuild their lives.

"We were taught to be angry, to fight – but I realized after all those years that we were only creating more pain," Legaspi shared on Adventist World Radio (AWR) Manila's Binagong Buhay segment. "When I got out, I knew I had to use what I learned to help others find their way back."

Legaspi said his decision to leave began in 2016, when he started counting the cost of the decades-long conflict. With more than 100,000 Filipinos killed since the CPP's reestablishment in 1968, he questioned whether the violence was worth it.

"Filipinos are peace-loving people with deep faith – that's who we really are," he said. "We were recruited with anger, but that's not our true nature."

Established in April last year, BKFI partners with government agencies to implement reintegration programs such as the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). The federation also organizes livelihood projects, connects members with funding institutions, and runs information campaigns against deceptive recruitment practices.

Additionally, the group helps former rebels address anger and trauma from their years in the movement—a critical step Legaspi says is essential for full reintegration into mainstream society.

"Some face discrimination from communities affected by past violence, others struggle to adapt to civilian systems and requirements – we're here to stand with them every step of the way," Legaspi noted.

This year, the federation will hold a Mindanao-wide peace forum in March, conduct activities in Negros following recent killings linked to the CPP–New People's Army (NPA), and hold summits in Region 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region. They are also encouraging active fighters to surrender and avail of the government's amnesty program, which runs until March 13.

During the program, Pastor Dulay—joined by Kasy Punzalan and Quinn Braga—emphasized that supporting former rebels is a shared responsibility for all Filipinos.

"These are our fellow citizens who have chosen to turn their lives around," he said. "It's time for our nation to embrace them and work together to build a future free from violence."

Dulay cited Philippians 2:13, noting that many former rebels are discovering spiritual growth alongside their personal and economic transformation—a key factor in sustaining positive change. The verse states: 'Sapagkat Diyos ang gumagawa sa inyo maging sa pagnanasa at sa paggawa, ayon sa kaniyang mabuting kalooban.'

Legaspi ended with a message for both former and active rebels: "There's a better way to serve the people – one that doesn't require picking up arms. We're here to help anyone who wants to come home, and we ask for all sectors to support this journey toward lasting peace."