Manila, March 9 -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) has trained 70 former rebels (FRs) to enhance their capabilities in drafting "effective and gender-responsive project proposals" for their communities.

In a report on Monday, the OPAPRU said the training was held from March 3 to 6 in Antipolo City, Rizal, under the supervision of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) Peace Process Office within OPAPRU's Local Conflict Transformation Cluster.

FRs from various parts of the country were organized into "special project teams" (SPTs) that will serve as agents of peace and development and help implement the government's Transformation...