Former rebels in AgSur receive cash assistance anew

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 27): Former rebels in AgSur receive cash assistance anew

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – Some 13 Former Rebels (FRs) enrolled in the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the government received their Livelihood Assistance and Immediate Cash Assistance amounting to P50,000 and P15,000, respectively held recently at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Capitol, Patin-ay, this municipality.

Vice Governor Samuel Tortor who was assisted by DILG Provincial Director Arlene Anne Sanchez, PSWDO Razel Montemor, and 26IB Commanding Officer LTC Rommel Pagayon personally handed over the cash assistance with a total amount of P65,000 for each beneficiary. Two of them who surrendered an extra M16 and a Garand rifle, aside from their own rifles, also received additional 90,000 cash as additional firearms remuneration.

The surrender of the former NPAs was made possible by the 26th Infantry Battalion (26IB), 3rd Special Forces Battalion and 401st Brigade with the Agusan Sur PNP Provincial Office.

At present, there are more than 300 FRs in the province who have benefited from the CLIP and have started a new life with their love ones.  They are calling their former NPAs comrades to go down with their firearms so that they will have something to start with and prove to themselves that they were treated well by the soldiers who were in fact too accommodating and helpful to them.

“This is an opportunity for them to go back to their families and start a new life. The province has a program to complement what is due them from the CLIP and the Army will also help,” said 401st Brigade Commander Col. Cristobal Zaragoza.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2041482799867/former-rebels-in-agsur-receive-cash-assistance-anew