From the Business Mirror (May 20, 2019): 29 pro-NPA Mindoreños surrendered—military
A total of 29 supporters and sympathizers of the New People’s Army have surrendered to security forces in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, during the past two weeks, the military said.
Col. Marceliano Teofilo, commander of the Army’s 203rd Infantry Brigade who has operational jurisdiction over Mindoro island, said the rebel supporters are members of the Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) and Milisyang Bayan (MB).
Teofilo said the SPL and MB are components of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA, and were tasked as spies, foodstuff and tax collector and even “recruiters.”
Eighteen of those who surrendered are members of the Mangyan Buhid Tribe.
“The rebels decided to return to the fold of the law due to our relentless combat operations and CSP [community support programs] in the GIDAs [geographically isolated and disadvantage areas],” Teofilo said.
“Our troop deployment in Mindoro is continuous and we will not stop until the CPP-NPAs only option left is to surrender,” he added.
The surrenderees have undergone several CPP-NPA courses and lectures, the military said.
Police Regional Office 4B Director Brig. Gen. Thomas Apolinario Jr. asked peace stakeholders in Mimaropa to continue supporting the campaign of the government in addressing the insurgency problem.
“I encourage all of the LGUs [local government units], stakeholders and peace-loving Mindoreños to continually cooperate and support our government,” he said. “Let us join our hands to protect our Mangyan IPs against these NPAs. Be with your Army and Police in achieving stable and genuine peace in our island.”’
Brig. Gen Elias Escarcha, acting commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, said the localized peace talks with the rebels and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) are luring surrenderees in Regions 4A and 4B.
“We will sustain our gains until they are defeated the soonest possible time. Rest assured that NPAs who desires to surrender will be processed to avail themselves of the E-CLIP,” he said.
The E-Clip is the government’s incentive program for yielding rebels.
Under the program, a former rebel can receive P15,000 in immediate cash assistance, P50,000 in livelihood assistance, firearms remuneration and access to housing, loans, medical and legal assistance, among others.
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