• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Thirty-eight former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental received financial and educational assistance from the government on Feb. 14.
In a statement, the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) said the giving of financial assistance, through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, was facilitated by the local government unit (LGU) led by Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr.
Through this intervention, the P10,000 financial assistance each given to 27 former rebels will serve as initial support to sustain their daily needs while their Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program benefits are being processed, the statement of 303IB further said.
The 11 others received educational support.
The former rebels were also provided with social hygiene, family, sleeping and kitchen kits.
Tongson was assisted by Col. Victor Llapitan, deputy commander of 303IB; Lt. Col. Anthony Grande, Himamaylan City police chief; Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94th Infantry Battalion commander; and City Social Welfare and Development Officer Ever Grace Castro in the distribution of assistance held at the City Hall.
Tongson acknowledged the trust of former rebels in the effort of his administration to facilitate their reintegration into mainstream society.
Llapitan lauded the support of the city government to the former rebels and congratulated them for making the right decision in returning to the fold of the law.
“The financial and educational assistance extended by the LGU and the City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict is a solid proof that the Himamaylan LGU is sincere in its commitment in allowing former rebels to start anew,” he added. | GB
