CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Vice Governor Dennis Pineda urged the 12 rebel returnees from Arayat to be at peace with the government and quit their old ways for their families’ sake and future.

During the awarding of financial grants for rebel returnees held at the Executive House of the Pampanga Provincial Capitol Tuesday, June 6, Pineda, a known advocate of peace and order, assured the former members of the New People’s Army that the government will take care of them, including their families. He also pleaded to them to never hold arms again and fully embrace mainstream society.

“Never ever arm yourselves again with guns. It can take away your lives. All of our efforts will be senseless if you will lose your lives,” he said.

He then asked them to be catalysts in the fight against illegal drugs.

“You know your areas. If you know someone involved in illegal drugs - pusher or user, the Pampanga Police Office will be happy to accommodate you. You will be a great help in keeping the peace and order here in our province,” he added.

The 12 rebel returnees return to mainstream society were through the efforts of Sta. Ana Mayor Norberto Gamboa and Arayat Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino who were known to be former revolutionaries as well. They were given initial financial grants of P50,000 each from the Provincial Government amounting to P 600,000.

Aside from the cash assistance, Alejandrino opened some job opportunities to them in safeguarding Mt. Arayat in exchange for their salaries.

“This will be a great help in sustaining your families and also for you not to come back to your old ways,” he said.

Other benefits to be given by the Provincial Government are free: hospitalization for them and their families in all district and provincial hospitals, scholarship grants, and training, and other services the Capitol can provide.

Also present in the event were Pampanga Police Director Senior Superintendent Nicholas Salvador, 48th Infantry Batallion Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Cabugon, Captain Domingo Reyes Jr., Committee Chairman on Public Order and Security Board Member Rosve Henson, and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) head Elizabeth Baybayan.

Assurance

Baybayan assured that the Provincial Government will make sure that their benefits from the social protection program shall be laid out for the rebel returnees.

“Of course, we will assure that. Now that they are in the program of law, they can be assured that the provincial government will serve every benefit they deserve,” she said.

She added that this is only the start of their new lives with a renewed relationship with the government.

Aside from the financial assistance granted to them, the PSWDO has already extended medical assistance to one of the returnee’s daughter by providing complete shots of anti-rabies and also to another returnee’s wife for her CT scan amounting to P 17,000 due to cancer of the uterus. The Provincial Government had also provided chemotherapy medicines in the year 2015 to them. (PR)