BY CRIS DIAZ, Executive Editor
CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City: Twenty-four former communist New People’s Army (NPA) were awarded free housing units, part of the terms of surrender offered by the government, the military said Friday.
Seven of the 24 former NPA members came from Cagayan de Oro City while the 17 others came from Bukidnon, the military said.
Maj. Francisco Garello, Jr. the military spokesperson here, said that seven surrenderers were awarded housing units located in CDO Midland Valley Homes in Dansolihon, Cagayan De Oro City.
He said that the 17 others were awarded housing units located in Pineville, San Jose, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
The government, through the Office of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) awarded Certificates of Entitlement of Housing Units to the former MPA rebels.
According to Garello, the awarding of the housing units was in faithful compliance with the commitments of the government as reinforced by the Clarificatory Implementing Document to the 2000 Peace Agreement.
The former rebels and their families were grateful of the government’s sincerity in satisfying the commitment it promised in exchange for the NPA rebels’ yearning to lead peaceful lives by abandoning the armed struggle.
Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner, commanding general of the army 4ID here, said that only NPA rebels who yield peacefully were entitled to the various programs offered by the government.
Among these government perks include free housing unit worth P 475,000, financial aid for livelihood, a two-hectare-farm lot, scholarship grant and possible enlistment in the military, Brawner said. -0-
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