Rebel returnees
who surrendered recently to authorities will be enrolled into government’s
Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).
As of this
writing, 11 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have already surrendered following
the encounter between the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion and the NPA’s Front 75
last February 16 in So Tugal, Barangay Datal Anggas, Alabel, Sarangani.
“Simula
noong engkwentro ay 11 na silang lahat ang sumuko at inaasahan naming na marami
pang sumunod upang makapag-avail ng Comprehensive Local Integration Program
(Since the encounter, there were already 11 rebels who surrendered and we are
expecting more to follow suit),” Capt. Rey Balibagoso, 1002nd Brigade’s civil
military officer said.
The encounter has
resulted in the “killing of seven rebels and the recovery of various subversive
documents.”
NPA leader
Tolentino Bariquit alias Kumander Brigol was among those killed.
But Ka Renan, a
rebel returnee who voluntarily surrendered in Alabel town last February 22 to
73rd IB headed by Lt. Col. Ronnie Babac revealed that the NPA had actually lost
13 comrades but they were able to ask some folk to help bury them.
“Sinabi nyang 13
ang namatay sa kanilang kasamahan, pero 7 lamang ang narecover ng gobyerno, at
ang 6 ay ipinalibing na lamang nila sa masa (He said they have actually lost 13
comrades but they were able to have common people bury them),” Balibagoso said,
adding there were no casualties on government side.
He also said that
in the last weeks they have received “surrender feelers” from rebels who want
to return to the fold of law.
Ka Renan and the
others will receive the necessary assistance as provided under the government’s
reintegration program, the officer said.
In the meantime
the returnees have been provided with short-term “food assistance.”
Under CLIP,
returnees are entitled to avail socio-economic assistance such as a livelihood
project to help them start a new life with their families.
CLIP is
implemented pursuant to Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2014-01 issued by
the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Office of the
Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (DILG-OPAPP).
It aims to encourage
members of the Communist Party of the Philippines
The returnees who
are all Tagakaulo tribe, an indigenous people (IP) mostly found in Malungon,
Sarangai, were presented to Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon, the committee chair of
CLIP in the province.
They will be
awarded the CLIP assistance on March 19.
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