Thursday, August 27, 2015

Rebel returnees receive livelihood projects from the government

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 27): Rebel returnees receive livelihood projects from the government

Camp Bancasi, Butuan City — Heavily armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who voluntarily returned to the fold of the government on Tuesday received P70,000 each for the livelihood program extended to them by the government to start their new way of life, a regional Army spokesman yesterday said.

The rebel returnees will also receive cash assistance from the AFP Guns for Peace Program as remuneration for the high powered firearms they’ve surrendered on Tuesday, said Capt. Joe Patrick A. Martinez.

“The government wants them to be productive in their respective localities, in their new way of life,” the spokesperson of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division said.

From the original list of 35 former NPAs who yielded on Tuesday, 7 rebels were added to the list during the surrender rites at the municipal gym in Lianga town, Surigao del Sur on Tuesday.

Vilma Quillano, a 24-year-old mother who joined the armed movement last 2010 to avenge the death of her mother during an encounter with the military in Surigao del Sur, was among the rebel returnees who took their oath of allegiance.

After having her own family, she then realized the importance of being a mother. She chose to leave the armed struggle because she wanted her family, especially her two-year-old son to have a better and brighter future.

 “Before, I cannot understand my anger against the government because of the death of my mother who was a member of the NPA. But now that I already have my own family, I realized the importance of my family especially my two-year-old son, how I love them so much. I don’t want them to experience the bitter life that I’ve experienced. I thank the Lord and everyone who helped me along the way. Everything went normal when I chose my family over revolution,” she said in vernacular.

http://www.mb.com.ph/rebel-returnees-receive-livelihood-projects-from-the-government/

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