The SOCCSKSARGEN Peace Advocates for Nation Building and Development (SPAND) Region XII, in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the provincial government of Cotabato, gathered around 120 former rebels (FRs) on Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen peacebuilding and community reintegration initiatives in the region at The Basket in Amas, Kidapawan City.
The activity forms part of the government’s peacebuilding initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation among government agencies and supporting the reintegration of former rebels into society.
Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza challenged the former rebels to become positive examples in their communities as they rebuild their lives.
“𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗼 𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗸𝗼𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱,” Mendoza said in her message.
Mendoza emphasized the government’s continuing support for former rebels and their families to ensure their smooth return to their communities.
“𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗴𝘆𝘂𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗸𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗯𝘆𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼, 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗯𝘆𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗴-𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗯𝘆𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗴-𝗼𝗻 𝗸𝗮𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗯𝘆𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼 𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗮-𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗼,” she added.
Mendoza expressed hope that the former rebels, now considered “peace advocates,” would embrace values of respect, unity, and peaceful coexistence despite differences in tribe, tradition, and beliefs.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Rochella Marie Taliño Taray underscored the role of former rebels in building peaceful and resilient communities.
“𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗸𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗯𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗴-𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗴 𝘀𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘁,” Taray said.
OPAPRU Peace Program Officer IV Jenete Cedeño echoed the importance of unity in helping former rebels reintegrate into society with “dignidad at integridad.”
Among the highlights of the event was the organization of a Provincial Federation to give former rebels official representation. Participants also received family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and transportation assistance from the provincial government.
