TACLOBAN CITY –– A town mayor in Samar has issued an ultimatum for members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to give up their illegal activities and return to the folds of the law.
Mayor Aran Boller of Matuguinao town said he was giving the rebels in the town up to three months to surrender, or the full force of the law would be implemented against them.
Because of the presence of the rebels, the town’s peace and order are affected and development is derailed, Boller said.
“I am giving you only three months to return to the fold of the law and don’t wait for the government to run after you. And those who will continue to support them, you will have your place,” he said during a peace advocacy forum held at the town’s covered court on Monday.
Matuguinao, which has a population of more than 7,200, is considered to be among the towns in Samar where insurgency remains active.
A military detachment has been put up in the town as a deterrent against the activities of the rebels who are said to be recruiting some residents.
Boller said that of the 20 barangays of Matuguinao, rebels could be seen in the villages of Carolina, San Roque, Ligaya, Inubod, Del Rosario, and Rizal.
He said he was willing to help those who would give up their armed activities by providing them livelihood and cash assistance of P50,000.
His administration will give P5,000 to each of the town’s villages as seed money for any livelihood activities so they would be discouraged from joining the armed movement.
“We want Matuguinao to be safe, orderly, and developed. But how can we achieve all of these if we have a problem with insurgency and criminality?” Boller asked.
Matuguinao, more than 43 km from the provincial capital of Catbalogan City, is a fifth class town with more than P55 million annual income, most of which are from its share of the internal revenue allotment.