SURRENDERERS. Sixty former Militia ng Bayan and mass base supporters of the New People's Army swear their allegiance to the government in a ceremony held in Cuartero, Capiz, February 15-16, 2019 (Photo courtesy of 3ID Public Affairs Office)
ILOILO CITY -- Sixty members of the “Militia ng Bayan” and mass base supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in Cuartero, Capiz withdrew their support to the terrorist group and swore allegiance to the government.
Their oath-taking was facilitated by the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion community support program (CSP) teams in a ceremony held in Cuartero on February 15 and 16.
“The Militia ng Bayan are those who have connections to the terrorists while the supporters are those whom the terrorists ask for rice, crops and foods,” said Lt. Hazel Durotan, Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the 61st Infantry Battalion, in a press conference held at the Camp Martin Delgado on Wednesday.
The surrrenderers came from Barangays Carataya, San Antonio, and Mahunod-Hunod, known as influence areas of the communist terrorist groups.
Of those who yielded, 37 are members of the Militia ng Bayan and 23 are mass base supporters.
Durotan said the 37 surrenderers will be enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and receive PHP15,000 as immediate assistance.
“Once their papers have been validated the immediate assistance will be given. The Philippine Army will facilitate all the papers needed for them to avail E-CLIP benefits,” she added.
The 23 former supporters will be referred to government agencies that could help them lead normal lives.
“Actually we are doing it in the province of Capiz. They have two projects for the CSP (Community Support Program) areas. They have the Department of Labor and Employment projects there,” Durotan said.
“They want to clear their name that's why they turned their selves in to the Philippine Army,” she added.
The United States and the European Union have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062492
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