Balik Baril program. Negros Occ. Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. receives a gun from a rebel returnee availing of a government program that converts surrendered guns for cash. They can use the money received as starting capital to start a new life. Ceremony was held during the 2013 Independence Day program at the Negros Occ. Capitol Social Hall.* (PIA6-LOL)
Four former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were given cash rewards by the Negros Occidental provincial government in exchange for the four high-powered firearms they surrendered to the military.
The financial remuneration of P210,000 were given during the rites for the 115th Philippine Independence Day celebration at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City last Wednesday.
Col. Jon Aying, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia town, Negros Occidental, said rebel returnees Felizardo Pineda Jr., Evonie Baynosa, Erving Binas, and Eugene Almojero surrendered themselves to the Army, with their three M-16 armalite rifles, and an M-14 assault rifle.
Under the Guns for Peace Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), an M-16 armalite rifle has a cash equivalent of P50,000 and an M-14 rifle has P60,000.
The AFP Guns for Peace program is aimed at encouraging NPA rebels to peacefully return to the fold of the law, lay down their arms and avail of firearms remuneration.
The four rebel returnees also received P20,000 in financial assistance and P28,000 worth of livestock as emergency assistance from the provincial government.
Capt. Christopher Cunanan, 303rd Infantry Brigade civil-military operations officer, said the P50,000 livelihood assistance package under the national government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) each for the four former rebels are still being processed.
Last month, Elizaldy Martisano, squad leader and political officer of the Sentro de Grabidad Platoon of the South West Front, received P110,000 in cash, for surrendering an M-16 rifle and three Mossberg 12-gauge shotguns to the military.
Also during the Independence Day rites, four children of ambush victims in La Castellana were awarded scholarship grants by the provincial government.
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. awarded scholarship grants to Mary Lyn Complesa, Glen Tamayor, Dexter and Dena Dimafilez, whose parents were among the victims of an ambush perpetrated by the NPA in La Castellana, last January. The ambush claimed the lives of eight civilians and a policeman, and injured 10 others.
Cunanan said AFP chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista also gave scholarship grants to three other children of the La Castellana massacre victims.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental has extended almost P1 million in financial and livelihood assistance to 89 rebel returnees, who have surrendered to the 303rd Infantry Brigade since 2010.
Aying also gave bicycles donated by the Rotary District 3850 to 10 former rebels, namely Erving Bañas, Felizardo Pineda Jr., Eugene Almojero, Evonie Baynosa, Elizaldy Martisano, Rodel Tanedo, Mary Jane Baynosa, Eduardo Baynosa Jr., Queenie Villafranca, and Jonamae Mahilum.
http://ndb-online.com/061513/local-news/local-news-4-ex-rebels-get-cash-surrendering-guns
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