The existence of insurgency in the Philippines has lasted five decades and it is one of the world’s longest-running armed conflicts. The revolution had evolved into a social movement, with an array of aboveground parties collaborating with an underground guerilla force to conduct an unending insurgency against the Philippine government, with units stationed across the nation, from Luzon to Mindanao, Palawan to Samar. The present administration wishes for long-term peace in the country. With the government's serious goal of putting an end to the country's communist insurgency and improving the lives of former rebels through various interventions, one of the most effective programs that provide long-term benefits for its recipients is livelihood aid. The study was facilitated through the case study approach that focused on the lived experiences of rebel returnees during and after the surrender. In this descriptive-qualitative study, recognizing the specific phenomenon, the researcher also prepared and used interview guide questions, and interview protocols, in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and recorded the one-on-one interviews with the participants. The statement of the rebel returnees was presented and analyzed thematically. A survey about their lives indicated how many tough experiences they had in the mountains, and they didn't want to go back or remember the problems they had. Despite the fact that they are currently experiencing problems in the transition phase following the surrender, they think they have already changed in their lives, in contrast to before. The study concludes that the constant role of the government to assist the former rebels in overcoming the problems they have now encountered as a result of their surrender, particularly in looking for jobs and also ensuring their safety from the threat posed by their former companions.

Keywords : rebel returnee, new people’s army, insurgency, reintegration, ex-rebels, social movement, ECLIP beneficiaries