CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal: Seven former rebels, including two “child warriors,” who recently surrendered to government forces successfully completed a two-day psychosocial rehabilitation program held in Rizal province. Lt. Col. Rimrad Feraer, commanding officer of the 80th Infantry Battalion that spearheaded the event, said the former rebels who joined the program belong to the Dumagat Remontado’s tribe of the Sierra Madre mountain range. He added that the undertaking was “a result of our consultation with the IP (indigenous people) tribal leaders who pointed out that most of the Dumagat former rebels are suffering from psychological trauma [for] being forced, coerced and threatened at gunpoint by the NPA (New People’s Army) to support the underground movement.” Brig. Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade that has operational jurisdiction over the area, said “the government is aware and sensitive to the fact that beyond the financial grants under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, it is imperative that we extend professional help to our former rebels, particularly the minors, so that they may be able to once again lead normal lives.” Maj. Gen. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division that covers Southern Tagalog, took cognizance of the military innovating and going the extra mile to help the former rebels who decided to quit armed struggle. The military said four out of the seven former rebels have already received P65,000 in immediate and livelihood cash assistance . A total of 132 Dumagats have left the New People’s Army since January 2020.
