Province not shutting doors on rebel returnees

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the Province of Cebu already declared insurgency free, the provincial government is not closing its doors to rebels who wish to return to the folds of law.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said Friday the province remains open to provide financial assistance to rebel returnees who wish to start a new life. She issued the clarification after learning that officials of Tuburan town were hesitant to seek Capitol’s help on a rebel returnee from Davao Oriental.

Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante said it was one of his councilors who informed him that the returnee, Dennis dela Cerna Basera also known as Kumander Orig and James, could no longer avail of the livelihood assistance program because the province has already been declared insurgency free. It was reportedly someone from Capitol who informed the councilor of the supposed change in the program’s status.

Because of this, Diamante said he had to give Basera P10,000 out of his own pocket so that Basera could start anew in Tuburan.

“That should be brought properly to our attention so we can make the right decision. It is true that we have been declared insurgency free but let me just state that as of now there is no policy against helping former rebels start a new life,” Garcia said.

Garcia said she will discuss the matter with the 78th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, as well as with the Cebu Provincial Task Force Against Insurgency so that better policies as regards rebel returnees will be put in place.

Garcia said it is certainly a positive development that people are no longer afraid to visit Tuburan town, which used to have the reputation of being a rebel-infested area.

Aside from assisting rebel returnees from within Cebu, Garcia said she will also discuss with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police options of “casting a more positive influence at a wider scale” by assisting rebel returnees from other provinces

“Kung makatabang mi sa ubang mga probinsiya nga maibanan o kaha mahunong na sab ang hulga sa insureksiyon didto sa ilang kaugalingong mga lalawigan, nganong dili man ta motabang og kaya sa Cebu?” she said.

Garcia said there have been cases when rebels who used to operate in Negros Oriental but surrendered in Cebu were made to avail of the financial assistance from Capitol. These rebel returnees now live in the northern town of Catmon and in Danao City and are being monitored by the local government units and their respective social welfare offices. — (FREEMAN)