P1.855M grant
awarded to 26 rebel surrenderees in Samar
By
DPAO, 8ID PA
April 2, 2020
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan
City, Samar – A total amount of P1.855M grant were awarded to 26
former rebels (FRs) who availed of the national government’s
Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and the
Province’s Local Social Integration Program (LSIP). The financial
grant is a way of helping the FRs to return back to mainstream
society as they live normal lives. The activity dubbed, “Peace
Towards Prosperity Initiative”, was conducted in separate ceremonies
held in Matuguinao, Paranas and Calbiga; all in Samar on March 30,
2020.
Said activities were
attended by Major General Pio Q. Diñoso III, Commander of the Army’s
8th Infantry (STORMTROOPER) Division; Most Rev. Bishop Isabelo C.
Abarquez, Diocese of Calbayog; Ms. Anita R. Taran, OIC, Provincial
Administrator of Samar; Police Colonel Andre Dizon, Provincial
Director of Samar Provincial Police Office; Mr. Judy Batulan, DILG
Provincial Director; Hon. Aran D. Boller, Mayor of Matuguinao; Hon.
Eunice U. Babalcon, Mayor of Paranas; Hon. Melchor F. Nacario, Mayor
of Calbiga; and other military and local government officials.
Additional financial aid
under the LSIP and E-CLIP programs will be awarded once the FRs
completed the needed requirements.
Major General Diñoso III,
in his remark, stated that “We are happy whenever one of your fellow
rebels surrenders to the folds of the law. The Communist
-Terrorist-Groups (CTGs) deceive and agitate members by injecting
ideologies against the government. You are just victims of such
deception.”
“Seryoso ang ating
gobyerno, ang ating presidente, si governor, sila mayor, ang mga
kapulisan at kasundaluhan para tulungan kayo. Ito ang magandang
dulot ng pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa. Pakiusap lang namin sa inyo na
ipaabot din sa inyong mga kasamahang patuloy na nasa kabundukan na
handa ang ating gobyerno na tulungan kayong magbagong buhay.” Diñoso
added.
A former rebel-beneficiary
was very much thankful and stated, “Damu an amon pagpasalamat nga
guin bubuligan kami san tinuod nga gobyerno kay buwa ngay-an an
esplekar san NPA nga sira an nabulig san mga tawo. Ine ngay-an an
tama – an aton kasundaluhan an nabulig. Sanglit kita nga mga
nagsurender pagburublig kita para mabuligan an aton gobyerno nga
magpanawagan san adto pa sa kabukiran nga lumugsad na liwat para
sira makatagamtam san kaupayan.” (We are grateful to the legitimate
government for helping us realize that the NPA’s claims of helping
the people were all lies. The truth to the matter is – our soldiers
are the true ones who help us. Let us then help our brothers who
were led astray by the NPA to return to the government so that they
too may experience prosperity and return to the mainstream society.)
The intensified
collaborative efforts of the government in the enforcement of the
Whole-of-Nation Approach amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, is a
reaffirmation of its commitment to provide peaceful, resilient,
sustainable and economically developed Eastern Visayas.