The Flood and the Fault Lines

How Former Rebels Became Lifelines After Typhoon Uwan

When Typhoon Uwan hammered the northern coast of Aurora, communities were left clinging to what little remained while waiting for help that moved too slowly. Roads were blocked, towns were dark, and many found themselves isolated with no clear sense of when government relief would arrive. In those critical first hours, the fastest responders were former rebels from Buklod Kapayapaan.

Among them was Danilo German, a former New People’s Army fighter and now a community organizer. He and his fellow volunteers mobilized immediately after the storm. Through a scheduled PhilHealth and Pamana Yakap caravan, they secured vehicles, escorts, and volunteers, reaching storm-hit barangays in Dilasag, Casiguran, and Dinalungan where hundreds of families waited for food, water, and basic supplies.

As they moved through coastal communities cut off by floods, German listened to residents recall storm surges that rose without warning, the long hours before any official aid reached them, and the frustration that followed. He noted that trust in the government was already fragile, and Uwan deepened that feeling. Many pointed to projects meant to protect them that failed when the waters rose, and he acknowledged that poor construction and corruption have real consequences for people who live in hazard zones.

German explained that this loss of confidence is familiar to him and to many in Buklod Kapayapaan. The group was formed in April 2025 during a gathering of former cadres and community organizers from different regions, who committed to assist the communities they once lived in and to prevent younger generations from turning to the path of armed conflict. Their work during Uwan reflected that mission, and German emphasized that relief is not just about delivering goods. For many residents, the presence of former rebels who understand their struggles helps temper anger and ease fear.

He believes that disaster response must improve, and he has seen enough storms to know the patterns, uneven distribution of aid, slow coordination, weak flood control structures, and delayed decisions that leave people feeling abandoned. He calls for national leaders to serve vulnerable communities with honesty, speed, and accountability.

Buklod Kapayapaan continues its work, preparing livelihood recovery efforts and shelter support for affected families. German remains driven by the resilience he sees on the ground and by the former rebels who now choose peace in their daily service. In the battered towns of Aurora, their presence has shown that the work of rebuilding is more than just providing relief. It is, more importantly, about restoring faith in institutions and proving that people who once took up arms can now help hold communities together in their most difficult moments.