Philippine E-Journals

Unveiling the Lived Experiences of Rebel Returnees: A Phenomenological Study

Gabrele Cubero | Yossef Guliban | Ronnel De Leon | Nancy P. Jacosalem

Discipline: social sciences (non-specific)

 

Abstract:

The government offers aftercare programs for rebel returnees to provide them various work, livelihood, and education opportunities as part of the reintegration process. The government has also spearheaded efforts to reach out to this group to halt armed conflict or convince them to surrender (Martinez, 2018). This study is anchored on the social control theory of Travis Hirschi, Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality, and the theory of motivation by Abraham Maslow. It utilizes a qualitative phenomenological approach to describe the lived experiences of rebel returnees. This study was conducted in New Bataan, Davao de Oro, using a purposive sampling technique to identify eight (8) rebel returnees. Using thematic analysis, the study drew the following themes: Life Struggle, Effective Government Peace Agreement, Recruitment Process, Taste of Freedom, Value for Education, and Long Live Family. The rebel returnees made a wiser decision for good and realized essential lessons based on their experiences that could be valuable for the rest of their lives. The government has never deprived them of the right to life and freedom and has offered various offers to start a new life. Furthermore, further research on the experiences of rebel returnees is recommended to obtain more extensive and comprehensive data. It is also recommended to gather their insights and learnings after those experiences.