CALBAYOG CITY– About 13 former members of the New People’s Army(NPA) who yielded to First Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st SPMFC) received P10,000 each as a financial grant from the local government of Calbayog and the first congressional district of Samar.
Brigadier General Vincent Calanoga, the police regional director, witness the distribution of said assistance and personally welcome them back to the folds of the law.
“I am privileged to personally welcome you and thank you for giving up the armed struggle and to finally embrace peace with your respective families,” he said.
City Mayor Raymund Uy and Rep. Stephen James led the distribution of cash assistance.
“Today’s payout is a proof of LGU Calbayog’s commitment to assist and support your (former rebels) reintegration to our city”, Uy stated.
For his part, Rep. Tan said that he too is happy that the former rebels chose to abandon their armed cause and return to the folds of the law.
“I understand that you went through a lot of thought before you came up with your decision and I want to assure you that you made the right decision. Choosing peace is always the better choice,” the Samar solon said.
Since the institutionalization of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 or ‘whole-of-nation’ Approach in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict in 2018, an influx of rebel-surrenderers was recorded nationwide. The government agencies have complemented all their efforts with a unified objective in ending insurgency in the country.
Police Cap. Joel Merino, the acting deputy commander of the 1st SPMFC, said that they are happy that leaders like Tan and Uy are giving their full support on the campaign of the government to quell the insurgency problem in Samar, in particular.
“We, therefore, urge our brothers and sisters who are still in the boondocks to lay down their arms and we will warmly welcome them”, he added.
(LEVIRESA ATIS GETIGAN)
