TAGUIG CITY – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) held a send-off ceremony on June 4, Wednesday, for 14 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) who are members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The send-off is seen as a major step by the national government towards fostering peace, healing and reconciliation, particularly among MILF and MNLF members who have spent years in prison.
“Ang send-off program na ito ay sumasalamin ng ating sama-samang layunin na muling ibalik ang dangal at pag-asa ng ating mga PDL,” said BJMP Regional Director Clint Russel Tangeres, emphasizing the significance of the initiative.
Tangeres also extended his gratitude to the OPAPRU and its leadership, saying, “Lubos po ang pasasalamat kina Sec. Galvez at sa OPAPRU, para sa inyong hindi matatawarang suporta at pakikiisa.”
“Ang inyong dedikasyon sa aftercare program, hindi lamang nagpapalakas sa aming mga institusyon, kundi nagbibigay rin ng bagong pag-asa sa ating mga kapatid na PDL,” he added, highlighting the importance of providing continuing support programs for PDLs and their families.
The activity, held in time for the celebration of Eid’l Adha on June 6, is part of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by OPAPRU and BJMP in October 2024 to promote a culture of peace and support the social healing and reintegration of PDLs into mainstream society.
Renewed commitment to peace
For the PDLs, the send-off marked not just a return to their communities but a newfound commitment to peacebuilding.
“Ito lang masasabi namin – lahat ng magagawa naming tulong sa peace process, tutulong kami sa government,” shared Majuk, 42, a former MILF PDL from Zamboanga.
“Ngayong paglaya ko, hindi ko masabi ang kasiyahan ko. Makikita ko na ang pamilya ko. Pag-uwi ko sa amin, unang-una kong gagawin…ang ikakabuti sa community ko…’Yun ang susuportahan ko. Kung ano ikakabuti sa gobyerno, ‘yun ang susuportahan namin,” he added.
“Excited na akong makita ang mga anak ko…Matutukan ang pag-aaral nila.” Ameruddin, 54, a former MILF PDL from North Cotabato, who expressed his gratitude for regaining his freedom, as well as shared his hopes for a brighter future.
According to the former combatant, he’s going back to earning a living as a tricycle driver.
“Pagbalik ko sa lipunan, maghahanapbuhay ako para sa pamilya,” Ameruddin said.
For these PDLs, the send-off ceremony is a reminder of the possibilities that can open up for individuals like them who have been given a “second chance” in life, which coincided with the celebration of Eid al-Adha.
Starting a new chapter
In his remarks, Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito G. Galvez Jr. underscored the OPAPRU’s commitment to helping PDLs rebuild their lives.
“Isa sa mga misyon ng OPAPRU ang pagbibigay ng suporta sa ating mga PDL upang makabalik na sila sa kanilang mga pamilya at komunidad, at mamuhay ng isang tahimik at mapayapang buhay,” Galvez explained.
“Hindi lamang ang inyong paglaya ang ating ipinagdiriwang ngayong araw kundi ang simula ng isang bagong kabanata sa inyong buhay sa piling ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay,” he said.
According to Galvez, the occasion is not just a celebration of their freedom but stepping into a future that is filled with joy, opportunity, and hope.
The peace adviser gave the assurance that the OPAPRU will continue to support the transition of PDLs through the agency’s Normalization and Transformation Programs.
“Layunin ng mga programang ito na makamit ang makabuluhang pagbabago ng mga former combatants at kanilang mga pamilya bilang mga mapayapa at kapaki-pakinabang na mamamayan ng ating lipunan,” he noted.
“As we move forward in our journey to a just and lasting peace, let us continue to support and uplift each other. Genuine social healing and reconciliation require the effort of not just a few, but of all Filipinos,” Galvez stressed.
“Sa ating mga acquitted PDLs — sa pagbalik niyo sa inyong mga komunidad, nawa’y magsilbi kayong mga modelo ng kapayapaan, paghilom, at tunay na pagbabago,” he concluded.###
