100 ex-rebels receive P500K financial assistance

From the Philippine News Agency (May 16, 2023): 100 ex-rebels receive P500K financial assistance (By John Rey Saavedra)

AID FOR EX-REBELS. Former rebels (right) receive PHP5,000 financial assistance each from the office of Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Monday (May 15, 2023). Major Joe Patrick Martinez, chief of the 3rd Civil Relations Group, on Wednesday (May 17, 2023) said about PHP500,000 cash aid was distributed to close to 100 former rebels in Cebu during the Visayas Command's peace consultation activity in Carmen, Cebu on Monday (May 15). (Photo courtesy of 3rd Civil Relations Group)

CEBU CITY – At least 100 former rebels (FR) in Cebu have received almost PHP500,000 worth of financial assistance from the office of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, an Army official said on Wednesday.

Major Joe Patrick Martinez, group commander of the 3rd Civil Relations Group, said the PHP5,000 cash grant for each rebel returnee was distributed through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Central Visayas during the peace and consultation organized by the Visayas Command (Viscom) on Monday at the Carmen town gymnasium.

The assistance could be used by the FRs as capital for their small-scale livelihood project while processing their accreditation and more livelihood programs from DOLE-7.

“The engagement of Viscom with the former rebels was also a complete package such as peace dialogue with the government agencies to know their issues and concerns, seminar from the DOLE-7 for the accreditation and sustainment of their organization,” Martinez told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview.

He said giving sustainable livelihood programs to the FRs would encourage other active New People’s Army rebels to surrender and support the peace and development efforts of the government.

Most of the FR beneficiaries are from mid-north Cebu towns like Compostela, Danao City, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Tuburan.

Paulino Lingues, a former rebel from Barangay Lawaan, Danao City expressed his gratitude to the national government, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Dela Rosa’s office, saying that the cash assistance was already a big help for them.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201667