BRGY. QUEZON, San Carlos City - Twenty-eight of the 67 rebel returnees in Negros Occidental, who have availed of financial and livelihood assistance from the provincial government, are expected to also receive P50,000 each from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said that the OPPAP is also expected to process the livelihood assistance of the 39 other former members of the New People’s Army, who have decided to abandon the armed struggle and live normal lives with their families.

Lactao, however, said that before the 28 rebel returnees availed of livelihood assistance from the OPPAP, they were required to undergo social preparations by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, that included training and seminars.

The 67 rebel returnees have already received P638,000 in livelihood and financial assistance from the provincial government of Negros Occidental, through Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr., who reiterated his call for the remaining NPA members, still hiding in the mountains, to join him in his fight against poverty.

Lactao said the rebel returnees are being given the choice of what livelihood projects they want to avail of and pursue.

OPPAP Undersecretary Luisito Monltabo had promised Lactao during a recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting that he will follow up the livelihood assistance of rebel returnees in Negros Occidental.

Five rebel returnees in Negros Oriental also received P50,000 each in livelihood assistance from the national government, and two of them were granted an additional P5,000 more each, as emergency support.

The provincial government of Negros Occidental, in tandem with the 303rd Infantry Brigade, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and other stakeholders in the promotion of peace, are now marking a month-long celebration of Peace Consciousness Month.

“We want to increase the level of peace consciousness of Negrenses” Lactao said, through the series of activities, in line with the Peace Consciousness Month celebration.

Similar activities are also being held by the 47th Infantry Battalion and 3rd Civil Military Operations Battalion in southern Negros, and Escalante City, respectively. Yesterday Lactao also met with some rebel returnees at the 62nd Infantry Battalion headquarters in Sagay City, who aired their concerns on livelihood and security.* GPB

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