A former labor organizer turned member of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has become an embodiment of how the government is set in its aspiration to fully embrace reconciliation and foster the development of rebel returnees who fell victim to the long history of violent armed struggle in the country.
William, not his real name, started as a labor union leader in 2008 when he and his co-employees in a factory raised concerns over meager salary, workload, and inadequate worker’s rights.
Their labor union was aligned with the Kilusang Mayo Uno, where he said that his struggles were used to agitate him, that led him to become a full-fledged member of the Apolonio Mendoza command of the CPP-NPA-NDF in 2012.
“I am one of the victims over financial concerns. I grew up in the province, and went to Manila to work, but where I worked offered small chances of promotion and salary increase. That is when I started to form a union and co-aligned with the KMU. That is where I started to become progressive,”
[“Isang biktima lamang ako sa usapin ng ekonomiya, dahil laking probinsya ako. Nagpunta ako sa Maynila para maghanapbuhay subalit yung paghahanapbuhay ko ay nagiging makunat ang promotion at dagdag sahod. Doon ko naisip na magtayo ng unyon at lumapit sa KMU. Doon nagsimula ang pagiging progresibo ko,”]
After eight years of serving as a political instructor for the CPP-NPA-NDF in red areas within the Calabarzon region, William decided to surrender to the Philippine Army in 2020 and that is when his life started to improve.
Immediately, he received assistance from E-CLIP or the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, one of the main clusters of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) that aids rebel returnees by providing them with financial and technical assistance.
William thanked the government for its consistent support to him and 53 other former rebels and sympathizers, whom he convinced to surrender to him.
“I thank our government for the livelihood assistance given by the Department of Labor [and Employment], and other agencies – the AFP, PNP, DILG, and many others. I nurtured [the grant], and I built a small business where I started small. Through God’s faith, my perseverance, and the drive to not let government support come to waste, I have built my store,” he explained.
[“Very thank you sa ating pamahalaan dahil sa tulong pangkabuhayan ng Department of Labor at iba pang tulong sa AFP, PNP, DILG, at sa iba pa. Pinagyaman ko ito, nagtayo ako ng kaunting business at nagsimula sa maliit. Sa awa ng Diyos sa aking pagpupunyagi at panghihinayang na huwag mawala ang tulong ng gobyerno sa akin ay napalago ko ang aking tindahan.”]
Through the help of E-CLIP and various assistance from government agencies, his capital has now reached Php500,000 and through the new batch of E-CLIP grants in Laguna, there is no sign of stopping the growth he has achieved.
On June 26 during the Laguna Provincial E-CLIP Summit, 17 former rebels and their families including William, each received Php65,000 in financial assistance for the establishment of their livelihood program from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as well as sacks of rice and other items from the provincial government of Laguna, and certificate of eligibility from DOLE.
Atty. Laurence Pasia, head of the Laguna Peace and Order Office and representative of Governor Ramil Hernandez, said that the E-CLIP distribution symbolizes the government’s undying commitment to support the reintegration of former rebels until they can stand on their own.
While for BGen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr., commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, reminded the recipients of the reconciliation efforts of the Marcos Jr. administration, then urged them to make productive use of the grants they have received.
“You should treasure, improve, and make use of what the government has provided. It is better to be productive on your own so that you do not need to spend your entire lives waiting for help from our government. Let us be responsible and productive citizens of our community,” the general said.
William adheres to this call and says that the grants will help him and his family a life of prosperity and tranquility.
“[I] strive not to just rely on the government and expect constant support. I am now at a level where I take care of what the Lord and the government have given us, and we need to work hard and take care of it so that our fellow citizens and my colleagues can see the truth in what our government is providing,”
“[Aking] sinisikap na hindi ako tumitingin lang sa gobyerno at nage-expect na laging meron [suporta]. Nandito na ako sa lebel na pinangalagaan ko kasi binigay ng Panginoon at binigay ng gobyerno sa atin yan kailangan nating pagsikapan at pangalagaan para makikita ng ating mga kababayan at aking mga kasama na totoo ang pinapamahagi ng ating pamahalaan.”
He then urged his fellow rebels to fully surrender to receive their intended government support, and for front organizations of the CPP-NPA-NDF to heed the call for unity and reconciliation of the government, and to de-radicalize labor unions seeking true justice and rights in a fair, pacifist manner. (CH/PIA-Laguna)
