ARMY'S 4th Infantry Division commander Major General Andres Centino on Tuesday called on the military units under northern Mindanao and the Caraga region to tap former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels as government's peace and development advocates, a military official said.
Earlier, Army officials in the Caraga Region commended 12 former communist guerillas who pledged to help the government's peace and development efforts.
“We appreciate the former NPAs support to the government's peace and development effort,” said Centino.
Centino said that former rebels are the living example; they can have a peaceful and productive life after they now return to the folds of the law.
“To further help the government in our campaign, we enjoin them to encourage their former comrades to follow their lead by returning to the folds of the law and avail the enhanced local integration program,” Centino said.
Centino even said former NPA members can also help the government by exposing the extortion activities of their former organization and encourage the business people to stop from giving in to the extortion.
“Giving any kind of support to these bandits contributes to their atrocities against the government and people,” said Centino.
Like Centino, 402nd Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Maurito Licudine in a statement Friday, last week said these former rebels are the most credible persons to convey and encourage the remaining NPA to surrender and reconcile with the government.
“These 12 new rebel returnees can also "effectively convince" their former comrades to lay down their arms and return to their families,” said Licudine.
4ID public affairs head Major Rodulfo Cordero said on July 18 to 21, some former NPA rebels finished their 4-day "de-radicalization," training at Camp Bancasi.
Cordero said the participants were former rebels who had recently surrendered to the different battalions of the 402nd brigade.
Sessions aim to "deepen their commitment" and accept the challenge to become “peace advocates,” according to Cordero.
He said the "deradicalization" program is part of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) process and a critical component of the reintegration of the former rebels into their communities.
Cordero said one of the highlights of the training, he said, was the session on psycho-social moral recovery where the rebel returnees are asked to give "personal reflection" on their "past mistakes.
“Testimonies shared by them during the training will also enlighten our youths, the student sector, and young professionals, to be wary of the NPA recruitment schemes,” said Cordero.
“Deradicalization process” according to Cordero, is also what Maj. Gen. Centino hoped and led former rebels to "join the peace and development initiatives of the government" and aimed to "transform their outlooks towards peace". (Ben Balce)
