Fourteen former rebels in South Cotabato found new hope after receiving livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region XII during the Friends Rescued (FR) and Former Violent Extremists (FVE) Summit at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center on September 26, 2025.
Led by the DOLE South Cotabato Field Office (FO) in partnership with the 38th Infantry Brigade, Charlie Company of the Philippine Army, and the Lake Sebu National High School Multipurpose Cooperative, the beneficiaries were provided with livelihood starter kits valued at PHP 24,000 to PHP 29,000 each to help them rebuild their lives and support their families. The initiative is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of inclusive reintegration and community development.
For Antonio Tuan, a father of nine from Barangay Upper Sepaka, Surallah, the support carried a deeper meaning, as he shared how the government’s presence encouraged him and others to leave the hardship of the mountains and start anew with dignity.
In his message, 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Jusobem Agucay, Executive Officer of the 38th Infantry Brigade, expressed gratitude to DOLE for extending its programs to former rebels and their families, saying the assistance would serve as a starting point for a new life of peace and hope.
In the same event, DOLE was also able to profile about 70 former rebels and violent extremists to assess their needs, connect them to appropriate government interventions, and help them reintegrate into society.
