Sick and tired of "living a life in the run," a female communications staffer of the New People's Army (NPA) Eastern Visayas Regional Party voluntarily surrendered to soldiers of the 34th Infantry Battalion last March 19.
Eastern Visayas consists of the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar,
Capt. Amado Gutierrez, 8th Infantry Division spokesperson, in a statement forwarded to the Philippines News Agency Saturday identified the surrenderer as "Marivic" and reportedly a member of the communications staff of Santiago Salas, NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee spokesperson.
Gutierrez said the factor that prompted "Marivic" to surrender was the incessant hardship and fighting for a causeless movement.
In addition, she said that she was not taken care of by the rebel organization when she suffered a serious illness late last year.
The 8th Infantry Division spokesperson added that "Marivic" also wanted to avail of government programs for surrendered rebels so that she can rejoin mainstream society.
Ex-rebels are entitled to avail of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Guns for Peace Program from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process’ Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) and the local social integration program of local government units.
The benefits from these programs are enough for a former rebel to start a new life.
Based on the record of the 8th Infantry Division, 24 NPA rebels have already surrendered to their custody from January 2014 to date.
Six of them already received firearm’s remuneration under the AFP Guns for Peace Program, while the rest who have not yet received their benefits under the government programs enumerated are still waiting for the processing of their claims.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=628142
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