MAWAB, Davao de Oro (July 20, 2025) — In a heartfelt celebration of peace, love, and redemption, twelve couples—composed of former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, CAFGU Active Auxiliaries (CAA), and regular Philippine Army personnel—exchanged vows in a Kasalan ng Bayan ceremony facilitated by the 60th Infantry (Mediator) Battalion under the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division.
The mass wedding was held at the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel inside Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr. in Barangay Tuboran, Mawab, Davao de Oro. The event symbolized not just the union of hearts, but the commitment of former combatants to a future rooted in peace and family.
Among the newlyweds were Diosimo Andales Catarata, 66, alias “Makatindog,” a former secretary of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 3, and Emy Ansag Camilo, 42, alias “Myka,” also a former member of the same unit under the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC). Their union stood as a poignant emblem of transformation, as they left behind years of armed struggle to start anew.
“Our decision to return to the government wasn’t only for our children’s needs, but also to fully surrender our love, our future, and our family to God,” the couple shared.
Agila Division Commander Major General Allan Hambala hailed the ceremony as a testament to the power of reconciliation and the triumph of peace over conflict.
“This is more than a wedding — it is a celebration of transformation,” said Maj. Gen. Hambala. “Their courage to turn away from conflict and choose peace, love, and faith proves that reconciliation is possible, and that the future can be rewritten with hope.”
Other notable individuals who tied the knot include Christian Balatero Pastero, alias “Khan,” former commanding officer of the NPA’s Weakened Guerilla Front 33; Maximo Junior Galos Catarata, son of Diosimo Catarata and former commander of Guerilla Front 3; and Ida Marie Montero, alias “Mandy,” former secretary of Sub-Regional Committee 5—all from the SMRC.
After the ceremony, the couples were honored with a reception at the 60IB Headquarters, Camp Morgia, in Barangay Doña Andrea, Asuncion, Davao del Norte. Principal sponsors, including local officials and military officers, joined the celebration and pledged support to the couples as they embark on a new chapter of their lives.
The Kasalan ng Bayan marks another milestone in the Philippine Army’s ongoing efforts to foster peace, reconciliation, and community reintegration across conflict-affected areas.