Vizcaya's rebel returnees receive cash assistance

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — The provincial government turned over a total of P1.2 million as cash assistance for 60 former communist rebels residing in this landlocked province.

Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma yesterday said last week’s release of P20,000 each to the members of the Nueva Vizcaya Rebel Returnees Association had been realized through the assistance of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

The NVRRA was formed two years ago by then provincial police director Senior Superintendent Segundo Duran Jr., and some former left-wing members led by Calvin ‘Ka Joey’ Magno to serve as a conduit for further livelihood and social assistance for New People’s Army rebels wanting to return to the fold of the law. “With this, we hope we will be able to win back more of our lost brothers to likewise return to the fold of the law by implementing something that is concrete to show that we are sincere in their returning into the mainstream of society,” she said.

The cash amount, she said, would be utilized as start-up capital for the recipients to establish their own business or livelihood ventures.

OPAPP director Susan Marcaida said the recipients were the first batch of some 100 listed NVRRA members qualified to avail of the same assistance from the national government.