Bulacan LGU To Train Alleged Rebel Returnees In Housing, Livelihood

Posted to the Business Mirror (May 2, 2021): Bulacan LGU To Train Alleged Rebel Returnees In Housing, Livelihood (BY JOVEE MARIE DE LA CRUZ)

THE chairman of the House Committee on People’s Participation said the city government of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, will provide free housing and livelihood training to the 244 members of alleged Leftist groups who withdrew their membership with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (CPP/NPA).

San Jose Del Monte (SJDM) Rep. Florida P. Robes and SJDM, Bulacan, Mayor Arthur B. Robes said social assistance will also be given to the returnees.

Both Robeses said the so-called “returnees” surrendered their IDs to their organizations and took their oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines as a sign that they will no longer provide support to the CPP/NPA.

“We will work closely with the NHA [National Housing Authority] to formulate an order to enable them to own housing units that are available in SJDM and give them livelihood assistance to bring them employment,” the Robes couple said in a joint statement.

A total of 224 members of Bayan Muna and Kalipunan ng Damayang Panlipunan (Kadamay) last Friday said they withdrew their membership from their organizations and their support to the CPP/NPA.

Among those who withdrew their support were one alleged armed member of the NPA, four alleged members of the National Democratic Front, three alleged organizers and one alleged “youth leader.”

Major Carl Sanchez Commander of the 301st Brigade said those who withdrew their support illegally occupied the housing development in 2013. Sanchez alleges that they had since been one of the main sources of support for the CPP/NPA group in Bulacan.

He alleged that hundreds more residents of the “Pabahay 2000” government project in SJDM are supporters of the communist group. Some of the returnees were part of the Kadamay group who occupied an idle housing project of the NHA in Pandi, Bulacan in March 2017.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/05/02/bulacan-lgu-to-train-alleged-rebel-returnees-in-housing-livelihood/