Negros Oriental LGU, military assure ex-rebels of financial aid

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Government officials in Negros Oriental on Friday assured rebel returnees of assistance for them to start a new life after leaving the New People's Army, the armed component of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The assurance came when Governor Roel Degamo and Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, turned over the initial cash assistance to four former members of the NPA, from Guihulngan City, who surrendered to the military last year. 

The four, who received P3,000 each from the government, were Jemar Visor, Danny Encabo, Oliver Villahermosa and Morita Barino.

Provincial Social Welfare Officer Alice Legarde said they comprise the first batch of rebel returnees in Negros Oriental to receive financial assistance from the provincial government for the year 2014. Last year, 27 rebel returnees also received similar assistance from the government, she said.

Legarde said the four were also qualified to get P65,000 each from the national government through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). The amount-covering P50,000 for livelihood assistance and P15,000 for emergency assistance-will be released by the 2nd quarter of this year. 

Degamo told the ex-rebels his administration will continue to deliver the basic services and carry on with infrastructure and development projects in areas that were vulnerable to the insurgency problem.

Barino, 35, cried and hugged Degamo after receiving her check. She said she was an NPA fighter for three years until she decided to leave upon finding out that they were only getting empty promises. She hoped her husband will also renounce the underground movement and return to the folds of the law.

Visor said he was convinced of the government's Guns-for-Peace program and the Bayanihan Team Activities, which led him to his surrender.

Encabo, who was with the NPA for more than 10 years as a masseur, thanked Degamo and the military for their dedication and sincerity of achieving peace in the province.

The oldest of the four, 52-year-old Villahermosa who was with the NPA in Canlaon City for 15 years, said he was "tired of fighting a useless war." He added that his son also wanted to surrender and planned to join the military.

Patrimonio, in a brief message during the turn-over ceremony, said, "Let us abandon the armed struggle," adding that the Philippine Army is continuously checking on the problems of insurgency-affected areas how these can be solved by government agencies.

The military official, meanwhile, said his command had asked for an extension of six months within which to comply with a directive from the AFP to clear the province of rebel infestation. Results of combat operations and BTA are now being assessed, he said.

Patrimonio further clarified the military has made significant gains last year with the surrender of a total of 27 rebels, and that 12 of 17 rebel-infested barangays in Negros Oriental have been neutralized so far.   (FREEMAN)