By Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–A total of 260 former members of the communist terrorist group, New People’s Army, received financial assistance from the government, amounting to P1.5 million, during a distribution ceremony held at Camp Lukban, headquarters of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) in Catbalogan City on Friday (Nov. 10).
Spearheading the cash aid distribution was the Office of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and the 8ID, headed by Major General Camilo Ligayo, in cooperation with personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Region 8.
According to a press statement from Lt. Col. Eduardo Meclat Jr., chief of the 8ID Public Affairs Office, 46 of these former rebels-beneficiaries, who surrendered with firearms, each received P10,000 cash, and the remaining 214 got P5,000 each.
Senator Bato’s chief of staff, Macky dela Rosa, relayed the message of the senator thanking the former rebels for yielding to the government and returning to the fold of the law. She also told the beneficiaries to help authorities in convincing the remaining NPA members to surrender with their firearms, and abandon their useless armed struggle.
“Gamitin ninyo lagi sa mabuti at lagi nyo isaalang-alang sa kung ano man ang nakabubuti. Use it for the good so that we can turn this good into something better, makasisiguro kayo na susuportahin namin kayo. At lagi nating tatandaan na iisa lang ang buhay natin kaya sana gawin natin parati ang tama,” said the senator in his message read by his top official.
Alias Dio, who has been a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines–NPA for six years, expressed his gratefulness for all the help and support extended to them by the government. He assured the government that he will remain committed in helping to encourage his former comrades to also surrender.
“Maligayang-maligaya ako kasi nakapiling ko na ang pamilya ko tapos ang daming tulong ng gobyerno sa akin, kaya sa abot ng aking makakaya ay tutulong ako sa gobyerno at kasundalohan na mahikayat ang mga dati kong kasama na sumuko na rin at i-avail ang programa ng gobyerno na nakahanda para sa aming nagbabalik-loob,” said Dio, who was a former squad leader of the NPA’s Bugsok Platton.
Meanwhile, 8ID Commander Ligayo said he hopes that the financial assistance given the former rebels will be put to good use to benefit whatever will be their undertaking in starting a fresh normal life.
“The financial assistance distributed today goes beyond the allocation of resources. It also symbolizes the unwavering support of the government to the former rebels who are now our partners in the pursuit of peace and development in the region,” Ligayo said.
The general added: “It represents a pledge to assist them (former rebels) in their reintegration into mainstream society, to help them rebuild their lives, and to provide them with opportunities for a brighter and more secure future.”
The financial assistance received by the former rebels, through the Office of Senator Dela Rosa, the 8ID, and the DSWD, is just a few of the assistance programs carried out by the government to help these surrenderers live their normal life anew. —-Miriam G. Desacada