In simple ceremonies
with Commanding General Arthur Tabaquero, three former male rebels
named Gerald Perez, former member of Mt. Amandewin Command who turned
in one browning Automatic Rifle got a hefty sum of P50,000.
Another rebel,
Angelito Remojo who turned in one caliber 5.56 M16 rifle also received
fifty thousand grand.
Still another, albeit
only ten thousand pesos, was received by Francisco Teramo who turned
in one caliber 30 M-2 carbine rifle.
The trio admitted
having received cash awards earlier from Governor Jericho Petilla of
Leyte, right after they surrendered.
Gerald, 27, who is
from Ormoc City said that including the latest, his cash assistance
has reached some P95,000. He told PIA he is tending a small business
and he plans to use the money for additional capital.
He said he reached
only grade 3 but can read or write. He was convinced to join the armed
group because of false promises, he added he had armed encounters with
the government soldiers in Ormoc and Villaba,
Leyte. He stayed
in the movement for five years and surrendered n 2008.
Angelito in his early
20’s stayed only in the movement for three months and immediately gave
up having experienced hardship like little food, “Waray sura.” (trans:
No fish nor meat to go with rice.)
It was peer pressure
that led him to the lairs of the rebel group. Unlike Gerald who can
read and write the ‘visitors pass’ issued to PIA, Angelito claims he
can’t read nor write and would just affix his thumbmark in documents.
He aired his wish to become a member of the CAFGU.
Mano Francing, 66 was
the most senior, he said he has lost track of the number of years he
spent as an NPA asset who tips the rebels of the army’s activities. He
failed to tell PIA how he knew of the army’s operations.
He also received the
least amount - P10,000 only. But like the two younger ones, he said
Petilla (Leyte Governor) has been giving them cash assistance in the
past. The three are from Leyte province.
MGen. Arthur Tabaquero
in his message said he is always pleased with former rebels who are
returning to the folds of government.
“Sa ating mga
kapatid na muling yumakap sa ating demokrasayang pamahalaan, ito ang
simula ng tunay na pagbabago at naway maging inspirasyon kayo sa ilan
pa nating mga kababayan natin na nanatili pa ring bulag sa idelohyang
patuloy na sumisikil sa kanila,” he addressed them in Filipino.
(PIA-Samar)
