Friday, June 18, 2010

Tabak hands over P271,000 to 6 former NPA rebels

Pagadian City -- To bring them back to mainstream society and to begin a brighter and more challenging life, six (6) former NPA rebels (FRs) received the Social Integration Program Firearms Remuneration worth P271,000" from Col Aldred Limoso, Chief of Staff representing the Commander, 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division, PA, MGen Romeo D. Lustestica, during a simple yet meaningful awarding rites held at the Officers Clubhouse, 1ID headquarters recently.

Mr Fidel T Ebillo Jr, Action Officer, SIP - Region 9 & Misamis Occidental who facilitated the release of this amount from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) assisted Col.Limoso.

The six (6) Former CPP-NPA rebels belong to the Regional Sentro De Gravidad II (RSDG2) of the Regional Operations Command (ROC), Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC), who voluntary decided to lay down their arms and return into the folds of the law, and avail of the Social Integration Program under Administrative Order 172. The former rebels surrendered eight (8) high powered firearms.

They are:

Ronald T Templado aka BENJIE, a native of Brgy Tininghalang, Lapuyan, ZDS and former Political Guide of Squad 2, RSDG2, ROC, WMRPC operating in the province of Misamis Occidental. He surrendered one (1) M16 and one (1) M14, and received an additional amount of P64, 000";

Unrico U Simbulan aka KULAFO/MUNDO, a native of Brgy Parang Lumba, Siayan, ZDN and former Vice Commanding Officer of RSDG2 and turned over one (1) M16 rifle with attached M203 Grenade Launcher, also the amount of P65,000";

Dondon G Baganday akas BUNSO, a native of Brgy Tininghalang, Lapuyan, ZDS and former member of RSDG2 who surrendered one (1) M14 rifle. He received the amount of P50,000";

Gecel C Samuran aka MARY, a native of Brgy Gala, Tudela, Misamis Occidental and former member of RSDG2, surrendered one (1) M16 rifle and received the amount of P50,000";

Melbert B Bukida aka JOK-JOK, a native of Brgy Nasipang, Rizal, ZDN and former Political Officer of RSDG2 surrendered one (1) Garand Rifle and received an additional amount of P10,000"; and

Bienvenido A Fabillar aka WINIE, member of FC FELICIANO, WMRPC, operating in Leon Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte who surrendered to 55th Infantry Battalion with his M16 rifle and received an additional amount of Thirty Two Thousand P32,000".

It can be recalled that on March 22, OPAPP gave P420,000 to 21 former rebels who surrendered to the government with P20,000 each as their initial financial assistance.

MGen Lustestica, in his message read by Col Limoso said, he expressed thanks to the former rebels for heeding the call of the government and for laying down their arms. He emphasized that the "weakening mass support? had made the lives of the rebels more difficult as well as the lack of food and sleepless nights due to persistent military operations.

One of the FRs confirmed that their life in the mountain and even inside the organization was very hard.

"Pamilyado ko. 6 kabuok ang akong mga anak ug naglisod na ko pagsuporta nila tungod usab sa kalisod sa among kinabuhi sa bukid nga kami wala nay makaon, mao nga nakahukum nga ako mosurrender sa gobyerno (I have a family with 6 children, I hardly support them because hiding in the mountains have been so hard that we don?t even have enough food to eat. So, I decided to surrender to the government)," Simbulan lamented.

The 6 FRs were grateful to the government for the Cash Assistance they received to start a new life.

"Nagpasalamat ko ug dako sa gobyerno nga pinaagi sa SIP nga naghatag niini nga kwarta nga among magamit para pagpundar sa bag-ong pagpuyo nga malinawon ilawom sa gobyerno (I?m very thankful to the government thru the SIP, providing us money to start a peaceful life under the government),? Tremplado said.

He called on his former comrades to surrender and avail the benefits of the Social Integration Program and live a normal life.

"Sa mga kauban nako kanhi nga nagsurosuroy pa sa kabukiran, ako kamong gihangyo nga mobalik sa sabakan sa balaod. Sayop ang atong hunahuna sa unang panahon nga ang gobyerno wala maghatag pagtagad kanato, ug karon saksi ang kadaghanan nga naay gihatag ang gobyerno, ikaduha na kini nga higayon nga naghatag ug financial assistance para sa returnee alang sa panginabuhian. (To my former comrades who are still roaming in the mountains, I appeal to you to go back to the folds of the law. We used to think that the government doesn?t care for us, but that is wrong, we have witnessed how the government is taking care of us, this is the second time financial assistance is being given to rebel returnees),? Tremplado concluded.

MGen Lustestica, once again called upon the brothers and sisters whom he considered as victims of the communist terrorists' deception, to lay down their arms, and return to the main stream society so that genuine peace and democracy will prevail and will bring forth development in Region 9. (AFP/PIA9)

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