74 Friends Rescued in EV receive P590K gov’t financial assistance

By DPAO, 8ID PA
March 24, 2023

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – The Office of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and 8th Infantry Division distributed P590,000 financial assistance to 74 former members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the region, today, March 24, 2023 at 8th Infantry Division Headquarters.

Among the 74 Friends Rescued (FRs), 44 of them who surrendered with firearms received P10,000 each as financial assistance and 30 received P5,000 cash.

The Chief of Staff (CS) of Senator Dela Rosa, Macky Dela Rosa spearheaded the distribution of financial assistance together with Grace Dela Rosa, the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Chief of Staff of the Senator and Brigadier General Perfecto Peñaredondo, the 8ID Assistant Division Commander and Social Workers from DSWD.

In her message, Macky Dela Rosa thanked the former rebels for returning to the folds of the law and appealed to help the government in encouraging their former comrades to surrender.

“Sobrang napakalaking bagay na kayo po ay nagiging partners natin, mga Peace-makers pinili ninyo na magdesisyon at maging bahagi kayo sa kapayapaan na ating minimithi,” Dela Rosa said.

Alias Web, the former Finance Officer of Sub-Regional Committee, EMPORIUM, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), who has been a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for 21 years expressed that he is grateful for all the help and support extended to them by individuals and the government and appealed to his former comrades to surrender.

“Mula ng pagbalik ko dito, nagkasama-sama kami ng aking pamilya. Kaya sa mga kasama ko na nandoon pa, bumaba na kayo, walang kahihinatnan ang inyong ipinaglalaban hanggang sa pagsasakripsyo at pagsayang lang ng buhay. Kung andito tayo sa gobyerno, mabibigyan pa tayo ng magandang buhay,” alias Web stressed.

Meanwhile, 8ID Assistant Division Commander, Brigadier General Perfecto Peñaredondo is hopeful that the financial aid received by the FRs will help in starting over as free individuals.

“Nawa itong ibinigay na tulong ng pamahalaan ay gagamitin natin ng maayos para tuloy-tuloy ang daloy ng mga biyaya. Sapagkat hindi lang dito magwawakas marami pa ang pwede itulong ni Senator Bato, medical, educational at mayroon pang ginagawang mga batas,” BGen. Peñaredondo said.

The financial assistance received by the FRs thru the Office of Senator Dela Rosa and the DSWD are just some of the various assistance and programs of the government to help them live their life anew.