Former NPA rebels in Zambo Sur receive PHP1.5-M livelihood assistance

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 21): Former NPA rebels in Zambo Sur receive PHP1.5-M livelihood assistance

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and this province’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) has awarded PHP1.5 million assistance to 21 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, a military official announced Monday.

DILG Regional Director Paisal Abutazil and Gov. Antonio Cerilles, who chairs the CLIP, led the distribution of the cheques to the 21 former NPA rebel-beneficiaries of the government’s CLIP in a ceremony held Saturday in this city.

Lt. Col. Alvin Luzon, Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion commander, said 16 of the beneficiaries received PHP65,000 each while the remaining five got PHP50,000 each.

Luzon said the five beneficiaries were earlier given PHP15,000 immediate cash assistance.

Luzon added seven of the 21 beneficiaries, who surrendered with firearms, also received remuneration ranging from PHP8,000 to PHP58,000 depending on the type of firearms they turned over when they surrendered to the government.

He said the beneficiaries of CLIP are residents of this province and former members of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.

He said CLIP is a social integration program of the government implemented by the DILG to assist former NPA rebels to start a new life.

Luzon said the former rebels have undergone livelihood training conducted by his personnel, DILG and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held at Camp Sabido that houses the 53rd IB headquarters in the nearby town of Guipos.

Cerilles said welcomed the decision of the beneficiaries in laying down their firearms since it is another great step towards achieving peace and progress.

Cerilles said Filipinos should work and help instead of killing and fighting each other.

“Nobody will help the Filipinos except fellow Filipinos,” he added.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=840151