Catbalogan Mayor Uy vowed to send gang members to school

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
December 2, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Feeling perhaps the sincerity of the repentant youths who agreed to change for the better, Catbalogan Mayor Coefredo ‘Tekwa’ Uy vowed to pay for the tuition and matriculation of those who would opt to return to school.

This he pronounced during the ‘surrender’ of the dreaded gang members 13 Hudas and Walang Awatan Para sa Lahat (WAPS) at the PNP Samar Provincial Police Office Tuesday.

Right then and there, the mayor ordered them to register their names for those who opted to get education in exchange for their pledge to help him in the quest for peace and order in the municipality.

After hearing the mayor’s pronouncement on sponsored education, the group applauded the chief executive.

Uy also promised them to hold a Christmas Party wherein they will also meet youth with the same purpose.

Officers of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) said that more gang-members will be joining the surrenderees in search for a better life, free of fear and violence. The youth admitted that they really want to change but yearned to be given more productive things to do. Others wish to return to school while some would want to have jobs or livelihood.

The Mayor with PNP Provincial Director Asdali Idjah Aba and Catbalogan Chief of Police Carlos Vencio personally inspected the weapons like sumpak, deadly arrow and pisaw.

For his part, Police director Abah encouraged some youngsters to instead join the Tanod program, he said those qualified will be trained and will be given some allowances.

Mayor Uy also reprimanded the youngsters to refrain from body tattoo because the practice may disqualify them for future jobs.