83 Dumagat rebel sympathizers surrender, receive gov’t assistance

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, July 17 (PIA) — About 83 Dumagat rebel sympathizers from Sitio Inoman, barangay San Lorenzo in Norzagaray, Bulacan returned to the folds of government.
 
Through the joint efforts of the Army 48th and 80th Infantry Battalions and the Philippine National Police (PNP), the group led by Chieftain Lacio Dela Rosa surrendered and denounced their support to the rebel linked Ganap na Samahang Baseng Masa.
 
“The continuous Local Peace Engagement activities of the Philippine Army and PNP such as information dissemination and situational interview made the Dumagats aware of the government’s programs and the opportunity to change their lives and correct the mistakes they have committed due to deception,” Police Regional Director PBGen. Rhodel Sermonia said.
 
The 83 former Ganap na Samahang Baseng Masa members’ return to the mainstream of society will make them eligible to the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

They will be provided with a holistic package of benefits that they can avail, such as livelihood, medical, education, housing, and legal assistance.
 
“Let me take this opportunity to urge those who are still actively fighting the government to lay down their arms and embrace other peaceful means to attain their sought after changes and to refrain from recruiting youth from poor families and students from state colleges and universities in Central Luzon,” Sermonia said.
 
“Our government has several programs to retool you so that you could all  become even more productive members of our society,” he added. (CLJD-PIA 3)