Duterte wants to centralize gov’t efforts for reintegration of ex-rebels; forms task force

March 19, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an administrative order centralizing all government efforts to reintegrate former rebels into society and creating a task force for such purpose.

AO No. 25, which Duterte signed on March 18, amends AO No. 10 Series of 2018, which centralizes all government efforts for the reintegration of former rebels who were members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People's Army (NPA), and National Democratic Front (NDF) through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

"There is a need to expand the coverage of the E-CLIP to facilitate the reintegration to civilian life of other rebels who have similarly chosen to lay down their arms and become productive and law-abiding members of society," said the order.

Also to be covered in the E-CLIP and also the Pamana Program are former violent extremists and their families, as well as the entire community.

The former rebels are those surfaced beginning July 1, 2016, as well as their qualified beneficiaries.

The former violent extremists used to belong to the Abu Sayyaf Group, Maute Group, and other violent extremist groups, as may be identified by the Task Force, who have surfaced starting July 1, 2016 as well as their qualified beneficiaries.

"For this purpose, an Inter-Agency Task for the reintegration of FRs and FVEs, to be known as the 'Task Force Balik-Loob,' is hereby created," the AO read.

The Task Force shall be composed of representatives, with a rank not lower than an Undersecretary, from the Department of National Defense, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of the President, National Housing Authority, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Local Extremist Groups Concerns.

The Task Force shall be chaired by the DND representative, who may invite such other government agencies or instrumentalities to the meetings of the Task Force, as may be deemed necessary.

The representatives of invited agencies shall have a rank not lower than an Assistant Secretary or its equivalent.

The Task Force shall organize and designate the heads of two clusters that shall focus on FRs and FVEs, respectively.

The funding necessary for the implementation of the Order shall be charged against the existing appropriations for the E-CLIP under the General Appropriation Act, as well as the respective budgets of the concerned agencies, and such other funding source as may be identified by the Department of Budget and Management.

Failure to comply with the Order shall result in the filing of appropriate administrative cases, the AO said.

The Order shall take effect immediately. Celerina Monte/DMS