DAVAO ORIENTAL- Two days before Christmas, three former members of the New People's Army (NPA) finally surrendered to the government after many years of living life as insurgents.

These former communists who go by the code names "Ramil," "Dodong Ahos," and "Rolex" yielded to the government through the Revitalized Police sa Barangay (RPSB) assigned at Barangay Maragatas in the municipality of Lupon.

Police Lieutenant Nadie Lambino and Police Lieutenant Joeffre Q. Narido under the Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office accompanied the former rebels to Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Vice-Chairman Mr. Ednar Dayanghirang on December 23.

Ramil, Dodong Ahos, and Rolex were operating for more than five years under Front 18 before they surrendered. Right after they decided to lie-low from the movement, they lived in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

Although it has already been five years since they last operated as members of the Communist-Terrorist group, the three former NPAs said they did not formally surrender out of fear that they would be killed by the government troops.

"Our former comrades told us that the government troops will kill us if we surrender," said Ramil. He added that they only mustered the courage to come forward after realizing that those were only part of the NPA propaganda.

"On top of it all, we want to live peacefully," Dodong Ahos said. "We are no longer working for them (CPP-NPA) but we are still hiding. We no longer want to live in fear," he added.

Their decision to return back to the folds of the government was influenced largely by President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Order 70 or Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which they learned about only recently.

Seeing that the program brings genuine services to the hinterlands, gives a second chance to former rebels, and is strongly supported by Governor Nelson Dayanghirang's Executive Order 13, the three finally had the firm resolve to surrender.

As they had seen the government's efforts to reach out to hinterland areas to bring government services, they realized that leaving the communist group would not be enough. To live peacefully, they must concede to the government. Upon yielding, they also surrendered a Calibre 38 Revolver and nine live ammunition.

The provincial government will be endorsing these former rebels to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) where they will be holistically processed to prepare them for reintegration into the mainstream society without discrimination.

More former rebels are expected to surrender as the government intensifies its efforts on peace and development under the implementation of President Duterte's Executive Order 70 or Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflicts. (By Shaye Dacles, PIO Davao Oriental)