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PRO13 sponsors ex-rebels mass wedding on V-Day

February 15, 2022 Alfred P. Dalizon 294 views

FOR richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, six pairs of former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Valentine’s Day had their official church wedding in Butuan City, the event organized by the Police Regional Office 13 (PRO13) in Caraga region.

The mass wedding of the former NPA members highlighted the Valentine’s Day celebration of the PRO13 headed by Brigadier General Romeo M. Camarat Jr. who cited the efforts of officers and men of the PRO13 Regional Mobile Force Battalion in convincing the rebels to return to the mainstream of the society and eventually say “I do” to each other.

The six rebel couples tied the knot at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Chapel of Luz Village in Barangay Bayanihan, Butuan City at 9:00 a.m. Monday.

The official said that the ceremony was sponsored by the local government and police officials, and businessmen led by Gov. Dale B. Corvera and Cong. Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba as well as the PRO13 Regional Advisory Council, the Eagles Club of Butuan City, and the Falcons Guardians Incorporated.

PRO13 chaplain, Maj. Lorenzo Ruga solemnized the marriage of the 12.

“Today, as they celebrate the union of their love, marks also the creation of their legal family. They must never forget that our family, as the basic unit of our society plays vital roles in the development of our region and our country in general especially in peace and progress,” Brig. Gen. Caramat said.

One of the newly-wed couples said that they cannot marry each other because they were running from the law before.

However, they were finally able to wed each other with the help of the local government and police force.

“We are happy and thankful for this. We are also encouraging other active NPA members to surrender and avail the benefits they received [in] the good hands of the government,” said the couple in the local dialect.

A child of another former rebel who was present during the ceremony was also given a Christian baptism before the mass wedding which was witnessed by the family and friends of the ex-NPA members as well as Caraga policemen and their stakeholders.

AUTHOR PROFILE