Army, NCIP link up to prevent recruitment of IPs by NPA

From the Philippine News Agency (May 27): Army, NCIP link up to prevent recruitment of IPs by NPA

The Philippine Army (PA) is now linking up with the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) to prevent the New People’s Army (NPA) from exploiting the Indigenous Peoples (IP) situated in the hinterlands of central Leyte.

Col. Rafael C. Valencia, commander of the 802nd Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) said that around three-fourths of the strength of NPA in Leyte, mostly in far-flung areas of Albuera and Burauen, are IPs.

Valencia said that their linking up with the NCIP is still part of their "bayanihan", although it needs more efforts because the agency has no regional office in Eastern Visayas.

Last January, the NCIP had facilitated the surrender of an IP tribe member-turned-rebel with the help of the Provincial Social Welfare Office (PSWDO).

Today, Monday, another IP received the final tranche of the P50,000 payment relative to the firearms remuneration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under its Guns for Peace program.

Meanwhile, Valencia disclosed that the strength of the NPA has already dwindled since the declaration of Leyte as a conflict-manageable area and the local integration program of the province has been implemented.

He added that with their efforts now, they look forward to “bringing down the level of threat” in Leyte before the end of the year.

He said that they also continue to work together with other national government agencies (NGAs) to refute the claim of the rebel organizers that they are being deprived of government services.

“As we all know, the government has plenty of programs and projects for our less fortunate brothers,” Valencia declared.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=528269