Zambo. Sur guv hands financial assistance to rebel returnees

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1371439527211/zambo-sur-guv-hands-financial-assistance-to-rebel-returnees
• Saturday, August 15, 2015

By Gideon C. Corgue (FPG/GCC/Pagadian/Zamboanga del Sur)

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio H. Cerilles on Wednesday awarded five rebel returnees with P15 thousand each to help them live normal lives again.

Cerilles personally handed the checks to the rebel returnees during the declaration of Zamboanga del Sur as peaceful and ready for further development province at the Amusement and Event Center, Capitol Compound this city.

The awarding of checks to the rebel returnees was witnessed by Western Mindanao Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Tabak commander MGen. Gerardo Barrientos Jr., PRO9 Deputy Director for Operations PSSupt. Randolf Delfin, 102nd Brigade commander Col. Andres S. Aguinaldo Jr., Board Member Ernesto Mondarte and Provincial Director Vernell Virgel Jayme of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The names of the rebel returnees were not divulged for fear of reprisals by their comrades in the communist movement.

The financial assistance is part of the national government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) administered by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP), which was transferred to the provincial office of the DILG since May 15, 2014.

Cerilles said “it is the goal of the government to extend help to those who have left the arms movement to have something to start with for their families.”

“Let’s join hands together to make Zamboanga del Sur’s development sustainable by living in lasting peace,” Cerilles added.

On the other hand, Tabak commander MGen. Gerardo Barrientos Jr. congratulated the beneficiaries for deciding to trust the government again.

He also thanked the provincial government for keeping true to its commitment to help the rebel returnees in Zamboanga del Sur return to the folds of law.

Barrientos said the 1st Infantry (Tabak) division had beefed up its efforts at licking the insurgents and, at the same time, opening its other hand to welcome those who wanted to go back to the mainstream society.

Barrientos said a day before the declaration of Zamboanga del Sur as peaceful and ready for further development province, eight regular members of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) had surrendered to the military.

The Tabak commander also said the unit would continue to intensify its engagement with all stakeholders in their area of responsibility in implementing the Bayanihan Team activities such as The Bayanihan sa Barangay, Bayanihan sa Kalusugan, Ugnayan Lingkod Bayan, Ugnayan sa Paaralan, Brigada Eskwela, Sagip Kalikasan, Youth Leadership Summit, Balik Loob Program, and Disaster Risk Reduction Management to ensure that the Philippine Army is always ready to help in case a disaster happens in the province.