15 Former Rebels Get Capitol Aid

From the Negros Daily Bulletin (Mar 22): 15 Former Rebels Get Capitol Aid

Fifteen former rebels (FR) received a total of P149,000 worth of livelihood projects from the Negros Occidental provincial government during turnover ceremony at the Provincial Capitol yesterday.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. led the distribution of the projects that included cash incentives of P5,000 each, free-range chickens, piglets, feeds, and veterinary medicines.

Marañon welcomed the FRs to the mainstream society and told them that the provincial government is always ready to assist them in their livelihood projects.

He also advised them to prioritize the education of their children because that is the best way to combat poverty.

All FRs will also be enrolled in the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP), the governor said.

The FRs thanked the governor and the Philippine Army for giving them a chance to live a normal life.

The FRs were presented by 303rd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Oscar Lactao. Also present were provincial veterinarian Renante Decena, Provincial Planning and Development coordinator Marlin Sanogal, and Binalbagan Mayor Emmanuel Aranda.

Lactao said since the implementation of the military’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Oplan Bayanihan in 2011, there are now a total of 99 FRs in Negros Occidental who went back to the fold of the law.

In 2011, there were at least 350 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Negros Occidental, but now, because of the active Oplan Bayanihan of the military, the rebels number only to 220, Lactao said.

Although the poverty level is high, and the number of rebels who are out-of-school youth is also high, the good news is that the number of rebels is decreasing, he said.

"We are improving. We are slowly eradicating the thought that if you are poor, you will become a rebel," Lactao said in Filipino.

Marañon said that in less than three years of his administration, 99 FRs have returned to the fold of the law.

This only means that they believe in our development agenda, their confidence on the government is high, because the 11-point NEGROS FIRST legislative agenda is really for the good of our poor constituents, the governor added.

Marañon said he expects that more FRs will return to the government’s fold soon.

http://www.ndb-online.com/032213/local-news/local-news-15-former-rebels-get-capitol-aid