Army camp introduces enlistment program for rebels

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 21): Army camp introduces enlistment program for rebels

The 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army (5ID-PA) based at Gamu town is introducing a program in the camp to encourage New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to give up arms to avail the great chance and opportunity to join the military.

Army sergeant Clifford Soriano, division public affairs personnel, in a radio program said the new commanding general of the 5th Army Division saw it necessary that the program aims to win peace with the rebels. Soriano said the latest accord between the government and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) in the region is a concrete example of pushing for a lasting peace in the area.

Soriano said that Army Major General Joel Ibanez saw the good effect when the government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP), which is helping the government has encouraged CPLAs in attaining peace through agreements or accords. The CPLAs, including their sons and daughters, are being absorbed by the military to become a regular member of the Army aside from the livelihood program assistance offered by the government.

There are now at least more than 100 CPLAs who have surrendered firearms to the government and now being processed to become regular member of the Army. Soriano said that Ibanez wanted that the same process and opportunity shall be accorded and offered to the NPAs to encourage them to surrender.

Soriano said that Ibanez saw this strategy as an effective means to stop insurgency. He said that once this strategy will become effective in the division, it can be replicated in other army divisions in the country. He said "winning peace is not only conducted through wars, it can also be achieved through diplomatic means to avoid damages”, Soriano said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=489349