Leyte: After years of shattered lives as armed rebels in the mountains of Leyte, two siblings found true freedom after leaving the New People's Army (NPA). Jessica Darantinao, 35, said life has finally been peaceful since she formally surrendered to authorities and applied for amnesty last year.
According to Philippines News Agency, her elder sister, Janeth, persuaded her to support the NPA as a member of a left-leaning youth organization in 2013. She became a full-time rebel after three years. After fighting the government between 2016 and 2017, Jessica realized that all promises of the NPA are lies, prompting her to escape when asked to conduct a meeting with left-leaning organizations in Albuera, Leyte.
Jessica shared that she worked in a private company in Manila for several years before she formally surrendered to the government. She kept her identity secret for fear of her safety, having been made to believe by the NPA that soldiers would torture her if she surrendered. The turning point came in 2022 when her classmate, who works in the military, informed her of a standing warrant of arrest against her for murder charges supposedly committed in 2018, a year after she abandoned the NPA.
Her name was associated with the cases as an education secretary of the NPA in Leyte province. Jessica felt a sigh of relief when the court probationally dismissed her case. While enjoying freedom, Jessica was worried about her older sister Janeth, who was still fighting the government.
Janeth began as a youth activist in 2012 after she dropped out of college due to financial constraints. She became a full-time NPA combatant in 2016 and held the position of political guide and educational secretary. Janeth recalled how their lives in the mountains were filled with hunger, displacement, and danger for what she later realized was a 'senseless' struggle.
She expressed that their intention was to help their communities, but instead, they caused more harm than good. This realization influenced her decision to surrender, although their commander attempted to dissuade her by saying that soldiers would harm her if she yielded to authorities. Janeth managed to escape in 2023 after a meeting with supporters of left-leaning groups in Sogod, Southern Leyte.
Janeth shared that she recruited her older sister to join the NPA, and it was Jessica who convinced her to surrender through letters. She applied for amnesty last year to free herself from criminal liabilities for joining the armed rebellion. Janeth feels safe now as the government listens to their needs and has given them the chance to start over.
Janeth and Jessica are now receiving various forms of government assistance and interventions through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which provides livelihood support, skills training, psychological services, and even assistance with their legal cases, among others.
Lt. Col. Edgar Gabia, commanding officer of the 14th Infantry Battalion, said the Philippine Army relies on the participation of former rebels like Jessica and Janeth for the surrender of the remaining active NPA members hiding in the mountains of Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces. He urged the NPA remnants to surrender and not wait to be killed during clashes.
Lt. Col. Gabia assured them that their families and communities are ready to welcome them back.
