260 ex-rebels receive aid

CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines — Up to 260 former New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas have received financial assistance amounting to P1.5 million from the government.

The financial aid was distributed during a ceremony at the headquarters of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) at Camp Lukban in this city on Friday.

The ceremony was headed by 8ID commander Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo and a representative from the office of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Eastern Visayas.

Lt. Col. Eduardo Meclat Jr., chief of the 8ID public affairs office, said 46 of the beneficiaries received P10,000 each while the rest got P5,000 each.

Dela Rosa’s representative Macky dela Rosa thanked the former rebels for returning to the fold of the law. She urged the beneficiaries to help authorities convince the remaining NPA combatants to surrender and abandon the armed struggle.

A former rebel identified only by his alias, Dio, thanked the government for helping him and his comrades return to mainstream society.