CEBU CITY – A group of former rebels in Bohol province has returned to the fold of the law.
Sixty-one former rebels and sympathizers showed up at the provincial capitol in Tagbilaran City on Wednesday, October 18, where they expressed their allegiance to the government.
Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado welcomed the decision of the former rebels to surrender.
GOV. Aris Aumentado (right) welcomes a group of former rebels who surrendered and took their oath of allegiance to the government at the provincial capitol in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Wednesday, October 18. (Contributed photo)
The surrenderers took their oath of allegiance as part of the joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
“It makes me very happy that 61 CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA (New People’s Army)-National Democratic Front) members surrendered to us today. We thanked them for trusting our administration,” Aumentado said.
Aumentado, who was joined by Vice Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite, presided over the oath of allegiance witnessed by members of the two councils.
It was learned during the meeting that the surrenderers were part of at least 10 mass organizations.
The surrenderers were former members of Bol-anong Artista na May Diwang Dagohoy (Bansiwag), Bol-anong Kahugpungan ng Kilusang Nangingisda (Bokana), Sandigan sa Bol-anon Kababayen-an ang mag-yuma ug Nangingisda (Sabakan), Hugpong Mag-uumang Bol-anon (Humabol), Talibon Trinidad Integrated farms (Humabol-TTFA), and Kabatan-onan Para sa Kalamboan sa Nasod (Kapakanan).
Thirty-eight are from Trinidad, 10 from Candijay, five from Mabini, two from Bilar, two from Catigbian, and one each from Alicia, Guindulman, and Talibon.
Mita Tecson, chief of the Office of Provincial Social Welfare, said two were former active members of the underground movement’s Bohol Party Committee and turned over caliber .38 revolvers to authorities.
The provincial government will distribute P10,000 each to the surrenderers to show the government’s willingness to help them start a new life.
Aumentado and Balite hoped that under their watch, insurgency in the province that has claimed the lives of many residents will finally come to an end.