PATIN-AY, AGUSAN DEL SUR — The heavy downpour did not stop 64 former rebels, now called ‘friends rescued,’ (FRs) from taking their oath of allegiance to the nation, pledging to turn away from armed struggle and pursue the path of peace.

The men and women, clad in plain white shirts, used to patrol the countryside with rifles in tow and engaged government troops in intense armed battles. But as they raised their hands and recited the oath on Friday, November 29, they began a new chapter in their lives.

The oath-taking ceremony coincided with the launching of the “Kalinow Center,” a facility that will serve as the nerve-center of the provincial government’s peacebuilding interventions.

The launching ceremony was led by Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr., and Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr.

Giving peace a chance

“As your governor, I am thankful to all of you for giving peace and development a chance to return not only here in the province but throughout the country,” Cane told the FRs in the vernacular in his remarks during the ceremony.

The governor asked the former rebels to play an active role in putting an end to the communist insurgency, as he urged them to encourage their ex-comrades to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law.

“Let us remember that we only have one nation as Filipinos. It is our responsibility to take care of our nation,’ he said, adding, “Let us love, protect and ensure that our children and grandchildren will have a country that is progressive and peaceful.”

Whole-of-nation approach

Razel Montemayor, provincial welfare and development officer, explained the rationale behind the creation of the Peace Center, saying that it is an offshoot of Executive Order No. 70, mandating the use of a “whole-of-government” approach in addressing the insurgency.

“Because we wanted to achieve lasting peace and development, the province aligns with the efforts of the national government on the whole of nation approach to attaining sustainable peace across the country through Executive Order No. 70,” Montemayor said.

In particular, she said the peace center will promote local peacebuilding initiatives, facilitate the integration of FRs into mainstream society, and institutionalize convergence efforts to uplift the lives of FRs and their families.

‘Whole-of-nation’ approach

During the ceremony, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through its Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, turned over checks worth Php 1,436,673 to 31 FRs.

The Department of Health (DOH) distributed hygiene and sleeping kits, while PhilHealth handed over membership IDs to the FRs.

In support of the establishment of the Kalinow Peace Center, the OPAPRU has provided the Agusan del Sur provincial government with P8 million in funds to be used for the facility’s operations.

Of this amount, P3 million has been earmarked for education assistance support to be given to the FRs and their families.

Galvez also announced that the OPAPRU, through its Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA Program), will implement Php 210 million worth of high-impact, community-level infrastructure projects in Agusan del Sur.

The collaborative effort between the OPAPRU, PLGU of Agusan del Sur, DILG, DOH and PhilHeath is part of the national government’s whole-of-nation, whole-of-society approach to ending the decades-long communist insurgency.

Realization of Transformation Program

According to Jonah Cossma Jumagpas, a former FR and who now works for the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur, the establishment of the Peace Center is a realization of the province’s Transformation Program Plan.

Spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPRU), the Transformation Program aims to address the socioeconomic needs of FRs and their families as they return to their communities.

“Ang pagtatayo ng Kalinaw Peace Center, ay isang malaking hakbang pasulong sa pagkamit ng mapayapa at isang masaganang bukas para sa bawat pagsuko,” Jumagpas said, as she thanked the provincial government and OPAPRU for their assistance to FRs.

A collective effort

In his remarks during the ceremony, Galvez highlighted the significance of the Peace Center’s establishment to the provincial government’s peace and development efforts.

“Ang peace center na ito ay hindi lamang isang pisikal na istruktura. Higit sa lahat, ito ay isang kolektibong hakbang sa ating pagpapaigting ng kapayapaan at pagbuo ng mga mas maunlad na komunidad para sa mga mamamayan ng Agusan del Sur,” Galvez stressed.

The peace adviser noted that through the Php 8 million fund provided by OPAPRU to the Agusan del Norte provincial government, its Peace Center will be able to carry out deradicalization programs, localized peace engagements and livelihood initiatives.

Galvez likewise underscored the crucial role of provincial local government units in implementing peacebuilding interventions at the community level, particularly those in support of the Transformation Program and Local Peace Engagement.

“Sa pamamagitan ng ating matibay na ugnayan, tiwala akong makakamit natin ang ating iisang layunin na alalayan ang ating mga frs na tuluyang talikuran ang armadong karahasan at tahakin ang landas ng kapayapaan,” he said.

The ceremony was also attended by MGen Allan Hambala, Commander, 10th Infantry Division, BGen. Francisco Lorenzo Jr., Commanding Officer, 401 Bde; BGen. Michele Anayron, Commanding Officer, 403 Bde; BGen. Arsenio Sadural, Commanding Officer, 901 Bde; BGen Felix Babac, Commanding Officer, 1001 Bde; BGen. Oliver Maquiling, Commanding Officer, 701 Bde; PBGen Alan Nazarro; Regional Director, PNP-CARAGA; and Dir. Maria Loisella Lucino, Regional Director, DILG-CARAGA.###