Returnees take their Oath of Allegiance.
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Eighty-three 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’s 48th and 80th Infantry Battalions and the Philippine National Police, 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 Region 3 director Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia said.
With their return to mainstream of society, the 83 surrenderees are made eligible to the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program
They will be provided with a holistic package of benefits 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. —Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu/PIA–3
