Cash aid released to ex-rebels

BURAUEN, LEYTE, Philippines — Fifteen former rebels who surrendered to the military last year received their Basic Immediate Assistance of P10,000 in a ceremony held at Brgy. Roxas of this town last week.

Lieutenant Col. Joel Alejandro Nacnac, commander of the 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion, said the BIA recipients were former members of Front Committee-Leyte (FCL), the infamous New Peoples Army group operating in Leyte province.

“These former rebels surrendered to the 19th IB because they want to live in peace with their family. They have made the right decision, because the Philippine Army and the Leyte provincial government are sincere with the peace and development stance so that remnants of NPA rebels fully abandon the armed struggle,” Nacnac said.

Speaking for the former rebels, Miguel Payod thanked the provincial government headed by Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Clotilde Malatbalat and the Philippine Army that worked together for the reintegration of the former rebels into the mainstream of the society.

Last year, a total of P685,000 was released by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process through the Leyte provincial government as additional reintegration assistance to the 14 former rebels who surrendered to the military from years 2007 to 2010.

Petilla, in his message read by Provincial Board Member Carlo Loreto, was hoping that the basic assistance and livelihood programs for the former rebels would also be the foundation of their new lives.

The Philippine Army’s Bayanihan campaign, with the PSWDO, in Leyte shall intensify to convince rebels to return to the folds of the law.  - THE FREEMAN