14 rebel returnees from Cotabato receive cash assistance —governor

From GMA News (May 18): 14 rebel returnees from Cotabato receive cash assistance —governor

14 former members of the New People’s Army from four towns in Cotabato received on Tuesday P50, 000 each under the rebel returnees assistance program, a provincial official said.

Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza said that at least P700, 000 in cash was given to the beneficiaries during a ceremony led by the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

Top local executives as well as high-ranking Philippine Army and Philippine National Police officials witnessed the turnover rites.

 The former NPA rebels returned to the fold of law last year under the government's Balik Baril Program (BBP).

 Mendoza said the 14 rebel returnees were composed of 10 male and four female former combatants from the towns of Magpet, Arakan, Mlang and Kidapawan City.

She said the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) evaluated the livelihood project proposals of the returnees as a requirement for the release of the assistance fund.

 For his part, Interior provincial director Ali B. Abdullah said that the program is being offered to members of NPA who expressed the desire to abandon armed violence and willingness to be reintegrated in society.

 Also, he said the same batch of 14 returnees received last year P15,000 each as immediate assistance upon surrendering their firearms to authorities.

 Meanwhile, provincial social welfare office chief Vergilita Guilaran appealed to the public to help the government in making the integration process successful to encourage more rebels to return to the embrace of the government.

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