ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) held a seven-day seminar and training for 82 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
Of the total participants, 64 were from the town of Tapaz, Capiz and 18 from Calinog, Iloilo.
The activity focused on human welfare, social well-being and government’s intervention for rebels under the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict 6.
The activity was held in Oton, Iloilo from Feb. 15 to 21.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, the activity was part of the “Akap Kapatid” pilot program of the police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Malong said participants were enabled to introspect and know their roles in the community.
“They underwent stress debriefing, talked about their role in the community and anti-criminality,” Malong said.
The former rebels also availed themselves of tooth extraction, dentures, medical check-up, blood pressure monitoring, among others.
They were also given community tax certificates, seedlings and educational materials aside from the P5,000 cash, bicycles, food, and medicines.
Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, PRO-6 director, said they will be holding two more “Akap Kapatid” activities soon.
“This is just the beginning. We will sustain the communication that we have with the communities in Tapaz and Calinog by conducting more police-community relations activities,” Miranda said./PN
