Tuesday, June 4, 2019

9 ex-rebels in NegOcc get P485-K in cash aid

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 4, 2019): 9 ex-rebels in NegOcc get P485-K in cash aid


FORMER REBELS. Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. talks to the nine former rebels who received immediate assistance and livelihood aid under the government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Monday afternoon. The recipients are former fighters and militia men of the New People’s Army who surrendered last year. (Photo courtesy of Richard Malihan/NegOcc Capitol PIO)

A total of nine former communist rebels and militia members in Negros Occidental received PHP485,000 in cash assistance from the government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) on Monday afternoon.

Seven of the recipients, who used to be
New People’s Army (NPA) cadres, were awarded checks worth PHP65,000 each, broken down into PHP15,000 in immediate assistance and PHP50,000 in livelihood aid, while two Yunit Militia members received an immediate assistance of PHP15,000 each.


The former rebels received their checks from Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., in the presence of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial director Carmelo Orbista, and Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, during the turnover ceremony held at the Governor’s Office at the Provincial Capitol here.

The governor told the former rebels, who have their own families, to give their children the privilege of having quality education to have a better life.

Arevalo said the Army units, which have custody of the former rebels, are helping ensure their personal security.

The recipients, who were part of the NPA Southwest and Central Negros Fronts, surrendered through the 62nd Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Civil Military Operations Battalion.

A 38-year-old former rebel, who was among those who received the assistance, said he is thankful to the government that through the Philippine Army, they were able to return to the fold of the law.

He surrendered last year after being a Red fighter for about seven years when he realized that he needs to provide a better life for his family.

Earlier this year, the DILG also provided a reintegration assistance of PHP21,000 to each of the seven rebels to help defray their administrative and incidental expenses.

The DILG is the lead agency in the implementation of the E-CLIP, which entitles a former rebel to receive immediate assistance of PHP15,000; livelihood assistance, PHP50,000; firearms remuneration, PHP12,000 to PHP500,000; half-way house assistance; PhilHealth enrollment and medical assistance; education assistance; housing assistance; legal assistance; and healing and reconciliation initiatives.

The Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the NPA, are listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1071463

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