Former rebels paid for guns

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jun 13): Former rebels paid for guns

Four former members of the New People’s Army yesterday received P210,000 for surrendering four high-powered firearms to the Army at the 115th Independence Day celebration at the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City yesterday.

At the same time, four children of ambush victims in La Castellana were awarded scholarship grants by the provincial government of Negros Occidental.

Col. Jon Aying, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said rebel returnees Erving Binas, Felizardo Pineda Jr., Eugence Almojero and Evonie Baynosa surrendered three M-16 armalite rifles, and an M-14 assault rifle, upon turning themselves in to the military in Negros.

The four rebel returnees also received P20,000 in financial assistance and P28,000 worth of livestock as emergency assistance from the Negros Occidental provincial government.

Under the Guns for Peace Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, an M-16 armalite rifle has a cash equivalent of P50,000 and an M-14 rifle, P60,000.

Late last month, Elizalde Martisano, with the aliases of “Ka Nonoy” and “Bong,” 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.

The P50,000 livelihood assistance package under the national government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) each for Martisano, Binas, Pineda, Almojero and Baynosa are being processed, Capt. Christopher Cunanan, 303rd Infantry Birgade Civil Military Operations officer said.

Baynosa, former vice-commanding officer of the Northern Negros Front Sentro De Grabidad Platoon, thanked the provincial government and the military for their assistance.

Marañon also 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 New People’s Army in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, that claimed the lives of eight civilians and a policeman, and inflicted injuries on 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 presented 10 former rebels with bicycles donated by the Rotary District 3850.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/June/13/topstory4.htm