Sincere, sustained peace program of Abra draws more rebels back

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 11): Sincere, sustained peace program of Abra draws more rebels back

More and more  New People’s Army (NPA) members  operating in the province  are  rejoining mainstream society.

Col. Raul Bautista, Deputy Commander of the 503rd Infantry Brigade, Lt. Col. Danilo R. Domingo, commander of the 41st IB presented  two more  former rebels to Governor Bersamin  on February 24, 2014 at the Provincial Capitol.

It was done in  the presence of  Decimia D. Cabang, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development who serves as the secretariat of the Social Integration Program (SIP) for the former rebels.

Both FRs surrendered voluntarily to the officers of the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Sitio Baquero, Nalbuan, Licuan-Baay on January 30, 2014 and February 14, respectively.

In a pep talk with the two FRs,  they  bared that they were inspired to come back to the fold of the law because they have seen the sincerity of Governor Bersamin and the sustainability of his peace program through  the ‘Kabsatko Ipategko Program’ (KIP)  which is carried out in partnership with the Philippine Army and the different partner agencies and individuals who are willing to help the FRs live a normal life.

The two also told the Governor  that the difficult living condition in the underground movement  where they were both members of the Kilusang Larangan Guerilla operating in the municipalities of Malibcong, Lacub, Tineg, Licuan-Baay, Lagangilang and San Juan in Abra, had drawn them to come back to the fold of the law.

Bersamin extended immediate cash assistance to the  FRs during their presentation.

Meanwhile, the PSWD will process their application for livelihood assistance from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process  and from the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the provincial government of Abra.

Edelyn Barcelo of the Philippine Red Cross facilitated the stress de-briefing of the  two FRs  after undergoing a medical check-up in a hospital in Bangued.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=111393576165