SAN JOSE DE BUAN, Samar (PIA) – “I opened my eyes and realized that my involvement with the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) would be futile; that’s why I surrendered.”

These were the words uttered by Honorio  Dacles, one of the 10 beneficiaries of the ‘Saad nga Balay Project’ for the peacebuilders in San Jose de Buan Samar, during the inauguration and turnover ceremony held Friday, April 5 in Barangay Poblacion 1, in said municipality.

Dacles, who has nine children, feels remorse for joining the CTG for over two years as he expressed his gratitude to the government for caring for his family upon their return.

“Hindi ako nagtagal doon, mga mahigit lang dalawang taon pero naramdaman ko na parang walang mapupuntahan. Mabuti na lang naisipan ko na bumaba na lang sa tunay na gobyerno para matulungan ako at matulungan ko rin ang gobyerno,” Dacles said.

(I didn't stay there long, just a little over two years, but I felt like I was going nowhere. Fortunately, I decided to go down to the true government to help me and also help the government.)

Dacles is living proof that the government sincerely calls on all CTG members to surrender and abandon their ideology.

“Marami ang natanggap namin na tulong at maraming salamat din sa ibinigay ng gobyerno sa amin. Ang pabahay project ang pinakamalaking tulong ng gobyerno sa amin,” he added.

(We received a lot of help and are also very grateful for what the government gave us. The housing project is the biggest help from the government to us.)

Upon surrender, the local government unit of San Jose de Buan, Samar, through Mayor Joquin R. Elizalde, provided cash assistance to the peacebuilder, which was a big help in starting a life.

It was also followed by financial aid under the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP) of the provincial government of Samar and other benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the national government.

Dacles, together with his two sons, became a full-time member of the CTG in 2018, but due to hardships and a feeling of hopelessness, he decided to leave and return to the fold of the law.

Dacles turned to the New People’s Army when he was at his lowest point to evade a VAWC (violence against women and children) case filed against him when he slapped his child’s face, thinking that he would find peace in the mountains. 

He mentioned that the rebel group had convinced him that his case could not be solved, so he joined them. But when he returned, he settled everything, and now he is living happily with his family.

Aside from surrendering himself, together with his two sons, Dacles is proud to say that he also surrendered three long firearms.

He described that life is now better than before when he was still in an arms struggle.

Dacles now holds the position of barangay kagawad in one of the barangays in San Jose de Buan, Samar after he won in the barangay election.

With all the benefits he received from the government, Dacles has called on all his comrades who are still in the mountains to come down and avail themselves of the benefits offered by the government.

“Gusto ko sa kanila iparating yung panawagan dahil alam ko hanggang ngayon naghihirap sila lalo na sa pagkain at hiwalay sa pamilya, ang gusto ko iparating sa kanila na bumaba na sila at gumaya sa amin na sa ngayon nagkaroon kami ng bahay, binigyan kami ng tulong ng gobyerno,” Dacles said.

(I want to convey to them the call because I know they are still struggling, especially with food and being separated from their families. What I want to tell them is to come down and follow our example because now we have a house, and we were assisted by the government.)

The housing project's turnover ceremony was considered a significant milestone of the peace-building initiatives in Samar province, as it symbolized a new beginning in the lives of the peacebuilders (friends rescued) in said municipality.

In addition to the P4 million initial budget shouldered by the provincial government of Samar through Governor Sharee Ann T. Tan and the municipal government of San Jose de Buan, Senator Robinhood Ferdinand Padilla, who attended the ceremony, has pledged to cover the expenses of one housing unit.

The ‘Saad Nga Balay Housing Project’ will benefit 17 families. However, the construction of the seven projects is still ongoing.

Also in attendance at the event were Major General Camilo Z. Ligayo, commander of the army’s 8th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Lenart Lelina, army’s 801st Brigade Commander, the Office of Civil Defense regional director Lord Byron Torrecarion, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority regional director Gamaliel Vicente, army engineers, representatives of various agencies and families of the beneficiaries. (CBA, PIA Regional Office 8)