Cash aid for rebel returnees

CEBU, Philippines - Twenty-one former communist rebels in Cebu yesterday received P20,000 each as immediate cash assistance from President Gloria Arroyo under the government’s social integration program.

The awarding was done at the Mactan Cebu International Airport Most Important Person Lounge before the President left for Manila after a five-hour visit here.

The immediate cash assistance that the 21 rebel returnees received is on top of the P50,000 livelihood assistance that the government will give to all former rebels who have “voluntarily surrendered and have given up their cause”.

The P50,000 livelihood assistance will be given as soon as the rebel returnees are able to complete the livelihood training provided to them under the program.

The 21 rebel returnees that were awarded cash yesterday allegedly occupied several positions in the communist movement ranging from squad members, collectors, organizers and active unit militia. They earlier surrendered to the 78th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

The group has surrendered a total of 20 assorted firearms in which they will be remunerated.

Those members of the New People’s Army who have turned over an M16 Armalite rifle when they surrendered will receive another P50,000 remuneration from the government.

Arroyo personally gave the P20,000 cash to the returnees. Two of the returnees, Rodolfo Quimbo and his son-in-law Sergio Lauron, were called by the President to give their testimonies.

The President asked questions like a talk show host to the two returnees. Quimbo told the President that he joined the rebel movement in 1985 because of poverty. He was lured by the rebels to join their movement with a promise that the life of his family would improve much better.

Quimbo said he also recruited his son-in-law into the movement but they later realized that what they have been fighting for is an exercise in futility. After spending several years in rebellion, Quimbo decided to surrender in September of last year. Lauron followed suit last month.

Since June 2008, a total of 264 former NPA fighters have benefited the immediate cash assistance and livelihood project from the program through the active cooperation of its local peace partners nationwide.

The Social Integration Program is a process where former rebels and their dependents are provided a set of interventions to facilitate their integration into the mainstream of society.

It is implemented pursuant to Administrative Order 172 issued by Arroyo on March 23, 2007.

Presidential assistant on peace process Avelino Razon, Jr. said that the awarding yesterday shows the government’s sincerity in pursuing peace through the implementation of programs for reconciliation, reintegration into mainstream society and rehabilitation. — Fred P. Languido/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)