Villanueva, Misamis Oriental – A total of 28 former members of the Communist-Terrorist Group (CTG) successfully completed a 10-day deradicalization program conducted by the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) of Misamis Oriental, in partnership with the 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB). The program, which ran from September 11 to 20, 2024, was held at the Halfway House located within the Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office in San Martin, Villanueva.
The deradicalization program aimed to help the former rebels reintegrate into society by addressing their past ideological leanings and guiding them towards peaceful and productive lives. As part of the government’s reintegration efforts, the program offered various forms of counseling, values formation, and livelihood training to prepare the participants for their return to their communities.
Upon the completion of the program, each participant received financial assistance from the government to aid them in starting anew. The financial aid is part of the government’s broader efforts under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which supports former rebels as they transition to civilian life.
Authorities from Misamis Oriental praised the success of the program and the determination of the participants to embrace peace and abandon armed struggle. The 58IB, which actively supported the initiative, reiterated its commitment to working closely with local agencies to ensure the success of such programs and to foster long-term peace and stability in the region.
The former rebels, who have now chosen the path of peace, will continue to receive support from the government, including livelihood opportunities and community reintegration initiatives, to ensure their smooth transition to a peaceful and productive civilian life.
This initiative forms part of the national government’s intensified campaign to address the root causes of insurgency and provide long-term solutions through community-centered programs and peacebuilding efforts.
