Retiring militiamen receive separation pay

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Aug 4): Retiring militiamen receive separation pay

THE Army’s 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division has released closed to P500,000 separation pay to 13 militiamen who belong to the 5th Infantry (CADRE) Battalion of the Tabak division, a military official announced Monday.

Army’s 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Officer-in-Charge Captain Franco Suelto said eight of the 13 militiamen beneficiaries are from Lanao del Norte while the remaining five are from Zamboanga del Sur.

Suelto said the payment in a form of checks were personally handed over to the militia-retirees by “Tabak” Division Chief-of-Staff Colonel Agapito Carmelo Nagrampa Jr. in a simple ceremony last Thursday in a training center for militiamen in the village of Pigkalawag, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte.

Suelto said each of the 13 retiring militiamen received P32,850 in check as a separation benefits or gratuity from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The recipients rendered more than eight years service, said Suelto.

The Civil Active Auxiliaries (CAAs) or better known in the community as CAFGUs (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units) are part-time soldiers who render duty for 15 days a month in detachments in the different areas.

Being a CAFGU entails services rendered in meeting local insurgency threat including disaster rescue and response, Suelto said.

Suelto said that the militiamen are automatically included in the ranks of reservists in Mobilization Center per provinces of the Ready Reserve units.
He added that there are more than 10,000 militiamen serving in seven provinces that fall within the 1st Infantry Division jurisdiction alone.

Meanwhile, Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander Brigadier General Gerardo Barrientos Jr. said “the services of our CAFGU are indispensible in the implementation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan.”

“They are the force multipliers of our regular soldiers to meet the demands of the Army’s deployment in far-flung areas where the services of our soldiers are needed most,” Barrientos.

“The gratuity and benefits received by the CAFGUs are fitting tribute to their selfless dedication and commitment to the country in pursuit of peace and development of their respective community,” he added.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2014/08/04/retiring-militiamen-receive-separation-pay-357823