BUTUAN CITY — Once known as “Kumander Dahon” in the communist movement, Higaonon tribe leader Datu Lino Namatidong has traded decades of armed struggle for rows of squash, banana and bamboo — a transformation that now sustains more than 100 Higaonon families inside their ancestral domain at Sitio Ilaw-ilaw, Barangay Lawan-lawan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
Namatidong first joined the New People’s Army in 1979 and laid down his arms in 1994. But the absence of support and persistent threats to his life drove him back to the mountains in 2006. In 2023, he returned once more — this time for good — choosing peace and settling in his ancestral domain.
“Our ancestral land was encroached by big logging companies in the 1970s. My tribe felt hopeless in defending our homes, and that was the reason I joined the rebel movement,” Namatindong said.
He recalled that family members and fellow tribesmen followed him to the mountains to take up arms. Among them were four of his sons and a daughter.
His 1994 surrender faltered due to lack of support and threats from within the tribe. He returned to the mountains in 2006, hardened by years of hardship — unforgiving terrain, hunger, sleepless nights and the death of a son in an encounter.
“I can no longer recall the exact date when one of my sons was killed in an encounter. That was a heavy burden for me,” Namatidong said. “But it did not stop me from waging war, because the movement made me believe that justice for my son and the rest of my tribesmen could only be achieved through armed struggle. Later, I realized those promises were false.”
Offer of peace
When the government rolled out its whole-of-nation approach to end the insurgency, Agusan del Norte launched service caravans delivering basic services to isolated communities. Government agencies and local leaders also held dialogues to encourage rebels to return through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (Eclip).
“I had already heard about the service caravans and the Eclip through government campaigns. Inside the movement, we were told the program was just a ploy to lure us into surrender,” Namatidong recalled.
But as more comrades laid down arms and shared stories of benefits received, he began to reconsider.
In 2023, Namatindong, along with his sons, a daughter and nine other tribe members, formally surrendered.
“I told myself it was time to settle down and live peacefully,” he said. “I was already tired — my family was tired, and so were the communities in our ancestral domain, weary from these conflicts.”
Transformation
After surrendering, the group underwent deradicalization and received livelihood aid to help rebuild their lives. They organized an association called Mapapasana Malingkawasnong Pagpalambo sa Panginabuhi sa mga Namatindong, formally registered in mid-2024.
Namatindong’s daughter, Didang, explained the name reflects their journey — “the struggle of the Namatindongs from the mountains down to the plains for livelihood and development.”
Through Eclip and support from Gov. Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante, the group received P50,000 for squash production, P65,000 for individual banana projects and a three-wheeled vehicle for transport. They cleared 30 hectares for farming, planting 8 hectares of squash by early 2025.
“We prioritized squash because it can be harvested quickly,” said Rina, Namatindong’s wife.
They also underwent training from the Department of Agriculture, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) on production and value-adding, including squash noodles and banana chips.
By late 2025, the group celebrated their first squash harvest, earning P600,000 in gross sales.
Markets in Buenavista, Nasipit and Butuan City now buy their produce.
They bought a truck for transport and three motorcycles for farm work, with plans to expand by another 8 hectares this year.
Alias Ronie, 46, a former platoon leader under Namatindong, began harvesting from his 1.4-hectare banana plantation last year, earning P2,000 to P2,500 per harvest. He has since expanded to 3 hectares.
Namatidong earned over P150,000 from his banana farm last year, using it to build a house at Sitio Ilaw-ilaw. Other clan members followed, constructing homes funded by farm income.
The group is now preparing to venture into squash noodles and banana chips. Amante also provided over 800 bamboo seedlings, now thriving. They have opened a 1-hectare siling labuyo farm, a high-demand crop in provincial markets.
“I am at peace now with my family, clan and in farming. Life today is far different from before — free from violence and conflict,” Namatidong said.
He urged remaining NPA rebels to accept the government’s peace offer through Eclip and choose a life of stability. PNA
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The Path to Peace: How Eclip is Transforming Lives in the Caraga Region
The Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (Eclip) has emerged as a cornerstone of the Philippine government’s internal peace and security strategy. Designed as a holistic “whole-of-nation” approach, Eclip facilitates the reintegration of former rebels (FRs) back into the folds of society. While the program is implemented nationwide, its impact on Region 13 (Caraga Region) has been particularly profound, turning a traditional flash point of insurgency into a showcase of reconciliation and rural development.
Historically, the rugged terrain and remote mountain ranges of Agusan and Surigao provided a strategic foothold for armed conflict.
However, Eclip has disrupted this cycle by addressing the root causes of rebellion — poverty, lack of education and social exclusion. Unlike previous amnesty programs, Eclip provides a comprehensive package of assistance that includes immediate financial aid, livelihood grants, housing and even remuneration for surrendered firearms.
In the Caraga Region, the success of Eclip is rooted in strong inter-agency collaboration.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and various local government units work in tandem to ensure that the “peace dividend” is felt immediately. For instance, the establishment of Halfway Houses in provinces like Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur has provided a safe space where former rebels undergo deradicalization, psychosocial counseling and vocational training through Tesda.
The economic impact on the region is undeniable.
By providing FRs with the tools to become productive farmers, entrepreneurs and laborers, Eclip has boosted the local agricultural sector.
Many FRs in Caraga have transitioned into managing rubber plantations, poultry farms and sustainable cooperatives. This shift not only stabilizes the local economy but also creates a “ripple effect” of peace; as former combatants succeed in civilian life, they become the most effective voices in encouraging their former comrades to lay down their arms.
Moreover, the program has significantly improved the security landscape of Northern Mindanao. With hundreds of surrenders documented over the past few years, the region has seen a marked decrease in armed encounters, allowing for the entry of more infrastructure projects and tourism investments.
Ultimately, Eclip is more than just a surrender program; it is a restorative justice mechanism. In the Caraga Region, it has proven that the road to lasting peace is paved not with bullets, but with the provision of dignity, livelihood and the genuine hope of a better life within the community.