• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A former rebel in northern Negros has come out to avail of the government amnesty program.
Known only through his alias, Ka Dante, he was assisted by the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion in applying for government amnesty, as he was also enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, 79IB commander, said the decision of Ka Dante to return to the fold of the law is a testament to the effectiveness of the government’s whole-of-nation approach to ending local communist armed conflict.
“We commend Ka Dante for choosing peace over violence, and for trusting the government in helping him start anew,” Calaoagan said.
“His reintegration reflects sincere commitment, our continuous and tireless efforts to reach out to those still in the armed struggle and show them that there is a better life outside of the futile and baseless armed movement,” he added.
Ka Dante, a resident of Escalante City, Negros Occidental, encouraged his former comrades to surrender and avail the same opportunities for change.*
