Pardoned Oakwood mutineer now a peace advocate

MANILA, Philippines – A pardoned Magdalo officer involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny has joined the Presidential Peace Process Office as a Social Integration Program (SIP) officer to help communist rebels rejoin mainstream society.

Presidential adviser on the peace process Hermogenes Esperon Jr. told reporters during the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt Hotel forum in Quezon City that former Army Capt. Milo Maestrecampo has admitted his grave mistake and has decided to help in the peace efforts of the government.

“Maestrecampo is now all humility, transforming his macho image to spiritual life serving God and country as action officer of the Social Integration Program,” he said.

As SIP officer, the former rebel soldier oversees the reintegration of former New People’s Army rebels who return to the fold of the law and avail of the government’s reconciliation program.

“His main job is to ensure that rebel returnees in Western Visayas will be able to avail of the benefits granted by the government,” Esperon said.

Under the government reconciliation program, rebels will receive cash depending on the firearms they turn over, and P50,000 as seed capital for livelihood projects to start a new life.

Esperon said the government has also tapped the services of other former Magdalo leaders as SIP action officers, among them Florentino Somero Jr. and Charleston Tan.

The two, like the other mutineers, were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Makati Regional Trial Court on May 16, 2008.

After their conviction, Somero and Tan asked and were subsequently granted pardon by President Arroyo as part of the government’s reconciliation program.