(L-R) Rommel A. Correa, chief of the Project Development and Monitoring Division of DILG-7, with Linda (not her real name), a former rebel, during the Kapihan sa PIA forum in Cebu City on March 12, 2025. (PIA7)
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA)— Poverty pushed Linda (not her real name) into joining the revolutionary movement at the age of 16.
Linda was lured into joining the rebel group by promises of a better life.
“Sa ilang pag-recruit nako, ila kong nadani kay kung mo-support ko sa kalihukan, makatabang daw ko sa akong pamilya,” she said.
(The main reason that pushed me to join the leftist group was hardship. At the age of 16, I experienced the difficulties of life. When they recruited me, they lured me in by saying that if I supported the movement, I could help my family.)
Initially enticed by the promise of a better life for her family, Linda later realized she had been deceived after she saw how the rebel leaders were living comfortably, a far cry from the dismal life of someone who is always in hiding and on the run.
She recalled how food was scarce, and they had to survive by asking for food from residents.
“Ang among mga lider nindot ug kahimtang sa laing nasud, unya kami maoy ibala sa mga kasundalohan ug kapulisan. Pananglitan eleksyon, kami himuong runner sa barangay aron mo-support sa mga lider nga nagsuporta sad sa amoa. Pero wala’y moabot didto sa bukid—kami ang naglihok, kami ang wala,” she lamented.
(Our leaders lived comfortably in other countries, while we were the ones sent to face the soldiers and the police. For instance, during elections, we were made to run errands in the barangay to support the leaders who are also supporting us. But no help ever reached the mountains—we did the work, yet we got nothing.)
A violent encounter with government authorities became Linda’s turning point. She was shot multiple times with an M16 rifle, leaving her left arm disabled.
“Didto jud ko nakahuna-huna nga kung ang usa ka tao maigo lang ug usa ka bala, mamatay man. Pero sa akoa, sa kadaghan og tapsing sa akong mga igo, nabuhi pa man jud ko,” she recounted.
(That was when I really thought that if a person gets hit by a single bullet, they could die. But in my case, despite being hit multiple times, I still survived.)
In 2018, Linda surrendered to the authorities and availed of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
As a beneficiary, she received an immediate assistance of P15,000.
She was able to process important documents like her birth certificate and Person with Disabilities (PWD) ID.
Additionally, she received P50,000 in livelihood aid and benefited from the National Housing Authority’s (NHA) Pabahay Program, which provided P100,000 worth of housing support.
Government’s commitment to reintegration
Rommel A. Correa, head of the Project Development and Monitoring Division (PDMD) of DILG-7, emphasized the department’s commitment to supporting former rebels and former violent extremists (FVEs) in their reintegration into society.
“Since July 5, 2018 ang DILG nag-administer na ug administrative packages ug assistance sa mga beneficiaries, sa mga former rebels. Naghatag kami ug suporta alang sa mga gustong mosurrender, mobiya sa armadong grupo para madasig na sila nga mopuyo sa malinawn ug mapuslanong kinabuhi,” Correa explained during the Kapihan sa PIA forum on March 12.
(Since July 5, 2018, DILG has been administering assistance packages to former rebels. We provide support to those who wish to surrender and leave armed groups so they can live peaceful and productive lives.)
Apart from members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), National Democratic Front (NDF), and Militia ng Bayan, E-CLIP is also available to FVEs who were once part of groups like Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group, Dawlah Islamiya, and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
“Usa kini sa dakong lakang o inisyatibo sa gobyerno para matapos ang rebelyon sa atong nasud. This is primarily to promote reconciliation through non-violent means,” Correa added.
(This is a major initiative of the government to end rebellion in our country. It primarily promotes reconciliation through non-violent means.)
Among the benefits given under E-CLIP are the immediate assistance of P15,000, livelihood assistance of P50,000, reintegration assistance of P21,000, firearm enumeration and halfway house services.
Since E-CLIP’s implementation in 2018, a total of 179 surrenderees in Region 7 have received assistance amounting to P11,045,031.
Over P1 million has also been released for firearm valuation in the region. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)
