Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in Negros Oriental, has urged local government officials to help the military in reaching out to members of the rebel New People’s Army to surrender and return to the folds of the law.
The Army commander cited the role of civilian officials in the government’s fight against insurgency, noting that in some instances, NPA members feel more safe and secure when they surrender to them instead of directly to military authorities.
The military is looking for conduits or linkages that can reach out to the insurgents and encourage them to lay down their arms and return to mainstream society, he explained.
He cited the recent surrender of a member of the NPA’s South East Front to Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo through the help of the vice mayor of
Last Thursday, a certain Jerome Rio Billamac, alias Maisa/Imper, a member of Squad 2 of the Sentro de Gravidad of the NPA’s South East Front, and a resident of Sitio Katipunan of Barangay San Roque,
He was accompanied by civilians to ensure that he was in safe hands, according to Brig. Gen. Patrimonio.
Billamac was subsequently turned over to Col. Christopher Estella, 302nd Brigade deputy commander and officials of the 79th Infantry Battalion where he is now in custody.
According to Patrimonio, the identity of the personality is duly validated by intelligence operatives and recent surrenderees and former rebels.
Once an NPA member surrenders to civilian authorities, he or she is turned over to the military for processing so that his or her name can be cleared from records of suspected rebels, Patrimonio explained.
Meanwhile, the Army commander said Billamac will be given financial assistance from the national government under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process after proper procedures are undertaken.
An initial P5,000 cash for his immediate needs will be released and subsequently another P50,000 for livelihood assistance, Patrimonio said.
Prior to the release of the livelihood assistance, a surrenderee is trained on his choice of livelihood, such as livestock raising or operating a small store, he added.
The livelihood program is implemented by OPAPP in partnership with the governor’s office and line agencies, Patrimonio said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=561436
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