SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go urged communist rebels to return to the fold of the law as he assured them of government support when they start their new lives.

Go, who was in Tupi, South Cotabato, gave his assurance to the rebels who will surrender that he and President Rodrigo Duterte will warmly welcome them should they choose to reintegrate themselves into society.

“Ako, bilang inyong senador at bilang inyong public servant at bilang Pilipino, alam n’yo ayaw ko pong nagpapatayan ang Pilipino kapwa Pilipino. ‘Pag may namamatay na sundalo o rebelde, sumasakit ang dibdib namin ni Pangulong Duterte (As a senator, public servant and as a Filipino, I don’t want to see Filipinos killing each other. Every time a soldier or a rebel gets killed, President Duterte and I are saddened),” he said.

“Tandaan natin, mayroon din pong mga pamilya ang mga ‘yan na nasasaktan. Kaya sa mga rebelde, mayroon naman pong magagandang programa ang ating gobyerno (Bear in mind that they also have families who get hurt. To the rebels, our government has good programs for you),” the senator added.

“May pinirmahan na po si Pangulong Duterte to encourage po na magbalik loob na po kayo sa gobyerno. Bibigyan ho kayo ng livelihood, bibigyan ho kayo ng assistance. Kung sa tingin naman po ninyo na makakatulong po ito sa inyo, magiging tahimik ang inyong buhay (The President has signed an order to encourage rebels to return to the fold of the law. You will be provided with livelihood and assistance. If you think this could be of help to you . . . your lives would be peaceful),” he said as he referred to Executive Order 70, which institutionalizes the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace by creating the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

The senator — a longtime aide of the President — said Duterte will provide all kinds of assistance to those who will surrender including housing, livelihood and education for their children.

President Duterte also signed Administrative Order (AO) 10 institutionalizing the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which are focused on reintegration efforts of former rebels in their respective localities as well AO 25, expanding the former AO’s coverage to include FVE’s or Former Violent Extremists, among other amendments.

He noted that Duterte has accommodated concerns of leftist groups, manifesting his sincerity to achieving peace and prosperity in the country.

Go, in his own capacity, has been assisting former rebels who chose to rejoin the rest of society.

Last December, his office sent help to 160 communist rebels who surrendered in Valencia City, Bukidnon. Go also sent assistance to 896 former rebels in Bukidnon on March 4.