TACLOBAN CITY — In a bid to strengthen peacebuilding and reintegration initiatives in Eastern Samar, 146 rehabilitated members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have formally organized themselves into a new association called the Eastern Samar Peace and Development Advocates (ESPADA).
The formation of ESPADA, announced during a consultative dialogue in Borongan City on September 15, reflects the government’s push to institutionalize the reintegration of former rebels through community-based organizations. The dialogue was initiated by the Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office–Provincial Intelligence Unit (ESPPO-PIU) and facilitated by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU).
“This is a significant step towards consolidating the efforts of our peacebuilders in Eastern Samar,” said Emy Bonifacio, OPAPRU regional coordinator, in an interview on September 16. “With ESPADA now organized, we can better ensure that their concerns are heard and that the programs under the Transformation Program Action Plan are implemented effectively.”
According to Bonifacio, ESPADA will serve as a support system for its members, providing access to legal assistance, medical aid, scholarships, livelihood support, and housing programs. The group is also expected to act as a conduit between the government and communities in Eastern Samar to prevent a return to armed conflict.
“The Transformation Program has four components that we are addressing,” Bonifacio explained. “First is security, to make sure our peacebuilders are safe when they return to their communities. Second is confidence-building, through services such as PhilHealth, national IDs, and scholarships for their families. Third is healing and reconciliation, which includes trauma healing and peace education. Finally, we have socio-economic interventions like livelihood opportunities and skills training.”
Bonifacio emphasized that ESPADA will align its work with the Eastern Visayas Peacebuilders Federation (EVPBDF), headed by Alma Gabin — herself a former high-ranking rebel — to harmonize local efforts with the region’s broader peace agenda. This move complies with a March 13, 2025, memorandum from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which mandates the consolidation of peacebuilder associations as civil society representatives in local and regional task forces.
“The organization of ESPADA ensures that former rebels are not just reintegrated but are also empowered to live productive lives,” Bonifacio added. “We want them to be part of resilient communities that will no longer be vulnerable to conflict.”
ESPADA’s newly elected ad hoc officers will now begin drafting the group’s by-laws and seek registration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to gain official recognition and access to government funding.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
