June 4, 2025 — MANILA — Fourteen former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), who had been detained for years, were officially released and sent home on Wednesday during a send-off ceremony led by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The ceremony, held just days ahead of the Eid’l Adha celebration, marked a major step in the government’s broader peace and reintegration efforts aimed at healing and reconciliation in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.
BJMP Regional Director Clint Russel Tangeres described the event as a symbol of shared commitment to restore dignity and hope to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).
“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,” he said, extending gratitude to OPAPRU and its leadership.
“Lubos po ang pasasalamat kina Sec. Galvez at sa OPAPRU, para sa inyong hindi matatawarang suporta at pakikiisa,” Tangeres added, citing the importance of aftercare programs that support PDLs and their families after incarceration.
The activity is part of the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between OPAPRU and BJMP in October 2024, which aims to foster a culture of peace and assist in the reintegration of former combatants into civilian life.
PDLs Embrace Peacebuilding and New Beginnings
For the newly released PDLs, the send-off symbolizes more than just freedom—it represents a renewed commitment to peace.
“Ito lang masasabi namin – lahat ng magagawa naming tulong sa peace process, tutulong kami sa government,” said Majuk, 42, a former MILF member from Zamboanga, expressing his willingness to support the peace process.
“Ngayong paglaya ko, hindi ko masabi ang kasiyahan ko. Makikita ko na ang pamilya ko… Kung ano ikakabuti sa gobyerno, ‘yun ang susuportahan namin,” he added.
Ameruddin, 54, from North Cotabato, shared a similar sentiment. A father and former MILF combatant, he looks forward to providing for his family and guiding his children in their education.
“Pagbalik ko sa lipunan, maghahanapbuhay ako para sa pamilya,” he said, revealing plans to return to his work as a tricycle driver.
Government Reaffirms Support Through Transition Programs
Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. reaffirmed the government’s support for the reintegration of former PDLs into mainstream society.
“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 said during the event.
He described the send-off as the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with opportunity and the promise of a peaceful life. Galvez also emphasized the continued implementation of the Normalization and Transformation Programs under OPAPRU, which aim to help former combatants and their families become productive members of society.
“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 said in closing.
As the country prepares to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the release of the 14 former PDLs stands as a powerful gesture of reconciliation and a renewed hope for long-lasting peace in Mindanao.