Cops build house for ex-NPA rebel

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A former member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was provided with a comfortable shelter through the initiative of the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (Nocpmfc) in San Carlos City.

The police force formally turned over the newly built house to the beneficiary last Monday after it was completed in three days.

It is situated a few meters away from the previous house of the beneficiary, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Edison Garcia, 1st Nocpmfc commander.

Garcia said they have chosen the former NPA rebel as the beneficiary of the project dubbed “Pag-ulikid: Compassion with Action’s BAHAYnihan,” because of his living situation. “Guba gid ang iya balay,” he added.

Garcia said the housing project is a program for former rebels who were not qualified to avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and those in vulnerable communities, isolated areas, Indigenous People, and the like. It has five clusters – Pabahay, Health, Education, Livelihood Training, and food subsidy.

Garcia said the project aims to replicate the true spirit of camaraderie and esprit de corps among the members of the community and the personnel of the 2nd Maneuver Platoon, 1st Nocpmfc.

“Helping one another is a contagious practice which is a good practice,” Garcia said, as he thanked those who were involved in the realization of the project.

Aside from the new house, a food subsidy was also given to the recipient and to the local folks who have helped in the construction of the house.

Garcia said the former NPA rebel was delighted of his new house. In his message, he said that, “sa kadamo sang akon gin palapitan para ma tigayon nga mapatukuran ako sang balay, gin sabat gid sang mga kapulisan ang akon nga pangamuyo nga maka angkon sang bag-o kag mapag-on nga balay.”

Early this year, the police force also constructed a house for a fisherfolk in Victorias City and also provided him with a livelihood.