FOR decades, Guerrilla Front Sendong or GF Sendong operated in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Misamis Occidental, sowing fear through violence anintimidation. Led by Joel Cecilio O. Jose alias “Sendong”, the group exploited socio-economic vulnerabilities to recruit marginalized individuals—youth, indigenous peoples, farmers, and students—into their ranks. They disrupted development, crippled livelihoods, and terrorized communities.
Despite setbacks, including the neutralization of its key leaders, GF Sendong persisted, primarily because of their deep knowledge of the terrain and the local communities that helped them evade capture for years.
However, in recent years, GF Sendong’s stronghold began to crumble as the Philippine Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade, in collaboration with other government forces, launched a relentless campaign to dismantle the group. A critical factor in this effort was the government’s Whole-of-Nation Approach, implemented through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which was established under Executive Order No. 70 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, effectively crippling GF Sendong’s operational structure.
By 2023, the tide had shifted. Coordinated military, intelligence, and civil-military operations took a heavy toll on the group, forcing many fighters to surrender. By early 2024, GF Sendong had been completely dismantled, and the region was declared insurgency-free. This victory was not only military but also a testament to the power of reintegration and rehabilitation.
Among those who left the group was Jennelyn Capac Nano, who joined GF Sendong at 18, seeking to escape a troubled past. After being injured in a military encounter, she decided to leave the group with the help of the 97th Infantry Battalion. Through government support programs like the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or ECLIP, Nano rebuilt her life and is now pursuing a college education.
Jenah Cabildo Belza Granada, another former insurgent, spent years in political activism before joining the New People’s Army. After enduring the hardships of guerrilla life, Granada and her husband surrendered in 2022. Now reintegrated into society, she works to promote reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts.
These stories highlight the human side of the insurgency—individuals once drawn into conflict who ultimately found their way back to peace. The fall of GF Sendong is a powerful reminder that lasting change is possible when military efforts are combined with rehabilitation and support.
