CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol yesterday turned over the P30,000 financial assistance to the rebel returnee from Davao Oriental who is now living in Tuburan town after his surrender last year.
The 22-year-old Dennis dela Cerna Basera, also known as “Kumander Orig” and “James”, was accompanied by Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante and elements of the 78th Infantry Battalion in receiving the assistance from Governor Gwendolyn Garcia at the Capitol yesterday.
Since the creation of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Insurgency Task Force in 2006, Garcia has already extended financial assistance to hundreds of rebel returnees in the amount of P30,000 as part of the provincial government’s social integration program for them to start a new life in the mainstream society.
“That is where the role of the local chief executive and the local government is vital and we are seeing now, once again because of the program that we initiated, a new life that will be changed for the better, and we thank God for this,” said Garcia.
During her first term in office, Garcia declared an all-out war against communist insurgency. She then came up with a program to help rebel returnees begin a new life.
The entire Province of Cebu is now declared insurgency-free and the Armed Forces of the Philippines made it as an example to other local government units.
Garcia wished Basera luck especially that he is reportedly getting married soon.
Lt. Col. Nolasco Mempin, commanding officer of the 7th IB, said Basera’s surrender “is a clear manifestation that attaining peace and progress cannot be achieved through violent means.”
Mempin said that Garcia has a big heart for those who wants to avail of the social integration program of the government and be productive members of the society.
“Kining tanan nga gihimo ni Gov. Gwen dili masayang ug manghinaut ko nga daghan pa unta ang parehas ni Mr. Basera nga mobalik sa sabakan sa atong balaud,” Diamante said. (Everything that Gov. Gwen has done will not be wasted and I hope that many more will emulate Mr. Basera and return to the folds of the law.)
Basera was the vice commanding officer of the platoon of Guerilla Front 18 operating in Davao Oriental.
It was Basera’s uncle, a certain Ramil Doñios, who is a former barangay tanod and resident of barangay Marmol, Tuburan, Cebu, who convinced Basera to surrender.
On April 18, Basera voluntarily surrendered to the 78th IB and immediately underwent tactical interrogation.
August last year, the military turned over Basera to Diamante who assured him of his security and gave P10,000 cash as livelihood assistance for his new life. (FREEMAN)